New York Size and Weight Restrictions

A New York size and weight restrictions truck accident lawyer will help you to investigate the scene of the incident to figure out whether or not size and weight restrictions were violated and therefore, this exposed a victim to critical risks after an accident occurred.

The size and weight restrictions are listed by the government as a result of plenty of research and data pulled from numerous accidents. Not only is it harder to control a truck when there’s more weight on board, but too much weight can mean the consequences of an accident are that much more severe. Violations of size and weight restrictions are a major problem that might be behind a trucking accident and the resulting lawsuit.

A size and weight restrictions truck accident attorney in New York will likely use a network of professionals that he or she has communicated with before, including accident reconstruction specialists, in order to figure out how the incident occurred. There are clearly outlined size and weight restrictions associated with trucks on the road today, in order to decrease the chances of them being involved in a catastrophic accident that could lead to serious injuries. There are federal weight limits for commercial motor vehicles, and these classify that the maximum weight in 80,000 lbs. for gross weight, unless a particular bridge formula is used to calculate a lower limit. For those vehicles that have a single axle, the weight limit is 20,000 lbs., and for those with a tandem axle, the weight limit is 34,000 lbs. It can be difficult for someone who has been injured in an accident to realize that it was actually the fault of the truck driver or the truck cargo loader by putting too much weight on the truck.

But this can lead to serious problems, not just in terms of being able to control the vehicle, but in minimizing the injuries associated with an accident. State and federal regulations govern truck size and weight, and it falls to the responsibility of a size and weight restrictions truck accident lawyer in New York to evaluate whether or not there have been breaches of liability that could form a claim for compensation.

Unfortunately, sometimes drivers and their employer companies decide that bigger loads may be more profitable, despite the fact that they are harder to control and steer, and can lead to catastrophic accidents. Accidents involving 18-wheelers and commercial trucks have been on the rise in recent years and unfortunately, personally injury attorneys have taken on more and more cases involving these types of allegations. The purpose of size and weight restrictions for 18-wheelers and commercial trucks are there to protect drivers and others on the road. Any violation of these weight restrictions should be illustrated with evidence, and this could be classified as negligence.

The companies that are responsible for this type of negligence may be held accountable. It is the responsibility of your personal injury attorney to review evidence, such as trucking company logs, weight stations records, and records of what was shipped in order to indicate that a violation did indeed occur. Over-sized loads can also cause break downs in the equipment on the truck, such as brake failure or tire blowouts, and this can make it harder for a truck to stop in time.

Fatal or catastrophic injuries may occur when the 18-wheeler then collides with other cars or jackknives into oncoming lanes of traffic. In all of these situations, it is the responsibility of the person who has been hurt to get help from an experienced lawyer.