Semi Truck Accidents in Chesapeake | Chesapeake Semi Truck Accident Lawyer
A semi truck or semi-trailer truck is an articulated commercial vehicle having a separate tractor with a cab for the driver which pulls a trailer attached to the tractor. The semi trailer has no front axle, due to the fact that the front part of the trailer is the part that is coupled to the tractor.
Unlike a small truck, a semi truck is a large, heavy and complex piece of equipment and requires special attention and maintenance. Improper semi truck maintenance can be the cause of an accident on the roads and highways in the Commonwealth of Virgina such as I-64, US-17, SH-168, I-464 and US-460.
Chesapeake Semi Truck Maintenance
Trucking companies operating in the Commonwealth of Virginia are required by law to properly maintain their semi truck fleet. A Chesapeake trucking company or any company that uses vehicles to transport passengers or property along major Chesapeake highways, such as I-64, US-17, SH-168, I-464 and US-460, should have a maintenance program in place. Improper maintenance is often a major cause of accidents in Chesapeake and and both the driver and trucking company have a duty to ensure the safety of their vehicles.
Why You Need To Hire a Chesapeake Semi Truck Accident Lawyer
In many cases, Chesapeake 18-wheeler accident attorneys must retain the services of scientific and medical experts to prove both the cause of the accident and the cause of your injuries. Additionally, a qualified semi truck accident lawyer will obtain all kinds of evidence concerning the scene of the crash, truck logs, and other important information to be used against the trucker, trucking company, or the company’s insurer. Arranging expert witness testimony and preparing important physical and documentary evidence is just one of many ways a Chesapeake tractor trailer injury lawyer can help you after you’ve suffered a truck accident injury from a major 18-wheeler truck wreck.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious box truck wreck, semi crash or big rig accident, hiring a lawyer is the farthest thing from your mind when tragedy such as this strikes you, a family member, or a friend. However, this is when you need a Chesapeake truck accident lawyer most. Do yourself a favor by calling one of the qualified Chesapeake truck accident lawyers listed on this page. Hire a qualified Chesapeake tractor trailer accident lawyer to help protect your rights.
Chesapeake Owner-Operator Semi Truck Maintenance
Not all semi trucks are operated by trucking companies. Chesapeake semi truck owner-operators are also required by law to properly maintain their semi trucks and keep them in good working condition. Travelers who become involved in an auto accident driving in a passenger vehicle on a Commonwealth interstate such as the I-64, US-17, SH-168, I-464 and US-460 can easily become a multiple vehicle car accident or pileup due to the volume of traffic in the Chesapeake area. Unfortunately, this can often occur due to improperly maintained semi trucks owned by small businesses. For example, improper maintenance is often found in Chesapeake owner-operator situations where one driver owns his or her own semi truck. An owner-operator may let the condition of their semi truck slip and still able to get the job done because the owner-operator is running a small business and may not have the time or money to properly maintenance and inspect their commercial vehicle. Regardless of the size of the company, this is an unacceptable situation. Despite the fact that a semi truck is owned and operated by the trucker, if poor maintenance is found to be the cause of an accident, the vehicle owner will be liable for failing to properly maintain it. The following is a list of semi truck maintenance repair shops in Chesapeake:
Semi truck maintenance repair shops in Chesapeake:
Carter Machinery Co
Colonial Ford Sterling Trucks
West Service Center, Inc.
Williams RV & Truck Service
Perkins Truck & Diesel Marine
Interstate Fleet Services |
Map of Truck Repairing & Service Near Chesapeake, VA |
| Use a reputable semi truck repair or maintenance shop to avoid issues of poor maintenance. |
Longer Vehicle Combinations (LVCs)
A semi truck can pull more than a single trailer. A Longer Vehicle Combination (LVC) is a semi trailer configuration where a truck tractor would haul up to 3 trailers. The sheer size and weight of an LVC makes it even more likely that an accident can occur. An LVC requires more diligence on the part of the trucker and the trucking company to maintain the truck, avoid bad loads and drive safely.
Following are some LVC combinations that although are capable of hauling greater loads, nevertheless present challenges for driving in downtown Chesapeake:
- Doubles - Two trailers being pulled by a truck tractor with the use of a draw bar to support the second trailer.
- Triples - Three trailers being pulled by a truck tractor with the use of two draw bars to support the second and third trailers.
In LVC combinations, the first cargo unit being pulled by the truck tractor is a “semi-trailer” (having no front axle) and the second or third cargo unit is a “trailer” or “pup” (having a front and a rear axle).
The maximum legal gross vehicle weight of a longer vehicle combination to operate on a U.S. interstate highway is 80,000 pounds.