Tractor-trailers are large vehicles that carry a massive amount of cargo. Tractor-trailers or 18-wheelers can weigh as much as 100,000 pounds and an impact involving tractor-trailers can cause immense destruction. Due to their large size, amount of cargo and other factors, tractor-trailer accidents are very common. Some of the causes of such accidents include adverse weather conditions, mechanical faults, traffic conditions and much more. Here are some facts you need to know when it comes to tractor-trailer accidents.
Common Reasons for Tractor-Trailer Accidents
Tractor-trailers can be involved in a wide variety of accidents. Sometimes the towed trailer detaches from the cabin and crashes into other vehicles driving behind and along the big rig. Sometimes, tractor-trailers tip over and crash into other vehicles. In some instances, big rigs are involved in rear-end crashes especially in cases where their brakes fail or in case of heavy fog.
What Happens After A Tractor-Trailer Accident?
When a big rig is involved in an accident, there usually is an investigation to determine the cause of the accident. In many of these cases, liability is often not easy to attribute to a single case. In many of these cases, liability often lies with multiple parties such as the driver or the owner of the tractor-trailer. Since liability is a big determinant of compensation, it is important to work with a personal injury lawyer if you are a victim of such an accident.
During such investigations, your auto accident lawyer will collect all the critical evidence that is required to show liability. Evidence such as tread marks can quickly vanish from the scene so it is important to ensure that it is collected quickly enough and preserved. Your personal injury lawyer will also talk to eyewitnesses in order to help determine who was at fault in such an accident.
Factors to be Considered for Tractor-Trailer Accidents
When investigating the cause of such an accident, personal injury lawyers look at a variety of factors. One of the critical factors is to see whether there was negligence on the part of the driver or the owner of the big rig. For example, the driver of the rig may have been under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Sometimes due to working long hours, big rig operators succumb to sleep while behind the wheel and cause accidents. Negligence on the part of the owner may cause a mechanical failure which in turn leads to accidents.
Apart from the proper maintenance of the vehicles, the owners of these big rigs may also be held liable if they hired unqualified drivers to operate their trucks and this is demonstrated to be a factor in the accident.
Choose Corradino & Papa, LLC For Tractor-Trailer Accident Claims
If you have been involved in a tractor-trailer accident, you can count on expert representation from Corradino and Papa, LLC. Contact us today for a free consultation.
Disclaimer: Results may vary depending on your particular facts and legal circumstances.