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Is an 18 Wheeler Legal? Many car accidents occur and can result in physical injury, medical bills and time lost from work. If an 18-wheeler vehicle is involved, the consequences could be more severe. Victims are able to file a claim to receive an amount of money if they suffer. This is where an attorney from New Orleans truck accident attorney can help. Weight Limits In general, 18 wheelers can only carry up to 80,000 pounds which includes the weight of cargo. This is a very tight limitation that requires trucking companies to pack their trucks as full as possible and could result in overloaded. Truck drivers who exceed this limit can be fined. The fines will vary depending the place they live. If you take a look at the lights of an 18-wheeler you can usually tell whether they're going over the speed limit. If their blinkers flash once, it is safe to merge ahead of them. High beams and flashes with multiple flashes aren't. Truck drivers also use their lights to communicate, so keep an alert for them when merging. Always leave a large gap between your car and an 18-wheeler. This is particularly important when you're driving by. If you cut off the truck, it could cause fatal crashes. Car drivers are at fault for 72 percent of all crashes between cars and trucks. The number of Axles Semi-trucks, unlike cars require multiple axles to rotate the wheels. The typical semi-truck has four axles, which includes the steer and drive axles, whereas a trailer typically has two tandem axles. This makes them longer than a typical passenger vehicle and it's essential to keep this in mind when driving with one of these vehicles. The weight limits of axles are determined by a variety of factors that include the Federal Bridge Formula, and the single axle and axle group legal limit posted by each state. The limits of the state may be higher than federal limits, therefore it is important for truckers and drivers to be aware of prior to travel. The task of transporting freight is already difficult enough and adding additional weight increases the likelihood of an accident. If truckers overload their trailer and is in violation of the law and may be held responsible for consequences of the injuries. A lawyer for truck accidents can determine if the driver of an 18-wheeler was at fault and was the cause of the accident in case you were injured. Speed Limits Speeding is one of the main causes of truck accidents, which every driver knows. This is particularly relevant for large trucks, which are more likely to crash due to their weight and size. Truckers must therefore observe speed limits on all roads they travel. Truck drivers are often under pressure to speed up delivery times and may not be able to slow down enough to suit the conditions. This can cause drivers drive dangerously, which can cause harm to other drivers. Fortunately, it is possible to minimize the risk of these accidents by using speed limiters. This device automatically restricts the speed of a car to a level that is safe. It can be installed on many different types. Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is looking into the possibility of a new rule that will require truckers to use these devices. The agency has released an additional notice of proposed rulemaking in order to get feedback on the rule. The previous proposals have talked about the limitation of truck speeds to 60 or 65, or even up to 68 speed. Insurance The majority of private owners buy one policy to cover all their vehicles. Truckers on the other hand do not own the vehicles they drive. Instead, they rent their 18-wheelers from a company that transports trucks. Because of the heightened perils of commercial vehicles, trucking companies usually require higher liability insurance limits. In addition, they can purchase bobtail and cargo insurance for their vehicles. Cargo coverage protects the freight that a semi transports and bobtail insurance protects the truck when it delivers its load. In the event of a wreck the policies could help to compensate victims or grieving family members for the losses they suffered. Maintenance It's often difficult to get an accurate estimation of maintenance costs for commercial vehicles. This is because the trucks are expensive to maintain and repair, especially when they need major repairs. However, some trucking companies provide maintenance schedules that will give an estimate of the total cost of maintaining the vehicle. Trucks are typically equipped with 10 brakes, not 18 and anti-lock brakes are now common in new trucks. In general, trucks require around 40 percent longer than a typical car to stop. This is due to the huge dimensions and the speed of an 18-wheeler. The term “eighteen wheeler” has become synonymous with trucking and is even featured in country music songs like the Red Sovine titles “Giddyup Go” and “Teddy Bear” and the thrash metal group BigRig's hit song “Roll on”. 18 wheeler accident attorney orlando is nevertheless important to keep in mind that these trucks aren't at home on the road and that they must adhere to the same rules as other drivers. For instance, it's illegal for truck drivers to text while driving because the smallest moment of distraction could result in fatal consequences.