18 Wheeler Accidents in Des Moines | Big Rig Des Moines Injury Lawyer
An “18 wheeler” is a slang term for a semi truck, tractor-trailer or big rig. It gets its name from the number of wheels in the combination of the semi tractor (the powered vehicle that pulls the trailer) and the semi trailer.
Semi truck, tractor trailer and 18-wheeler accidents are common occurrences on Des Moines roads and highways such as I-235, I-35, I-80, Hwy 6, or Hwy 69. It is estimated that approximately 5,000 people die as a result of 18-wheeler accidents and big rig collisions in the United States each year with a substantial number of 18-wheeler truck wrecks occurring in Des Moines, Iowa, every day. Due to the population and congested traffic throughout Sugar Land, unfortunately there are a number of big rig truck crashes
Why is it Called an 18 Wheeler?
An 18 wheeler gets its name from the number of wheels on the rig. The semi tractor and semi trailer combination will have 18 wheels (10 for the tractor and 8 for the trailer).
The semi tractor (or truck tractor) has 3 axles - one axle in front for steering and two drive axles in the rear. The front axle will have a pair of single wheels and the two drive axles will each have a 2 pairs of double wheels. That’s a total of 10 wheels for the semi tractor (4 doubles and 2 singles).
The semi trailer has two axles in the rear. A semi trailer has no front axle by definition because the front part of the trailer is coupled to the semi tractor. A semi trailer will usually have 2 pairs of double wheels per axle. That’s a total of 8 wheels for the semi trailer (4 doubles).
With all these wheels and with a gross weight in the neighborhood of 70,000 to 80,000 lbs., it is imperative that the brakes are properly maintained. A truck with bad brakes simply cannot stop as quickly or in as short a distance as one with properly maintained brakes.
Des Moines 18-Wheeler Accident Lawyers Need to Access Cause
In many cases,Des Moines 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 18-wheeler 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 Sugar Land tractor trailer injury lawyer can help you after you’ve suffered a truck accident injury for a major commercial vehicle wreck.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a serious semi truck wreck, tractor trailer 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 Des Moines truck accident lawyer most. Do yourself a favor by calling one of the qualified Des Moines truck accident lawyers listed on this page. Hire a qualified Des Moines tractor trailer accident lawyer to help protect your rights.
Maintenance of Brakes Required For Des Moines Wheelers
When an 18 wheeler is driving on the roads and highways in Des Moines such as the I-235, US-69, US-6, SH 28, SH 5, or SH 415 or just passing through to some other destination, the trucker will know if he or she has bad brakes. It doesn’t matter if the trucker is an employee of a trucking company or the owner of the rig or not. If you’re driving an 18 wheeler or big-rig, then you’re responsible for maintaining the truck’s brakes, period. There are many truck brake repair shops in the Des Moines area that are suitable for servicing 18 wheelers. A trucker can select from any one of them before entering a congested Des Moines truck route or interstate with their commercial vehicle. If an accident ensues as a result of the trucker’s failure to repair faulty brakes, then it is considered to be negligence. And, if a lawsuit is filed in Warren County on behalf of the injury victim, the trucker has no excuse for failing to repair the brakes. Failure to properly maintain brakes is considered negligence on the part of the trucker and/or trucking company.
There are a number of truck brake and repair shops in the greater Des Moines area where a truck driver can stop to have his brakes inspected and/or repaired. As mentioned before, there is absolutely no excuse for an 18 wheeler’s brakes to fail and a Des Moinestruck driver will be held negligent if this occurs. Following below are some Des Moines brake repair shops where 18 wheeler brakes can be maintained:
Here are some Des Moines brake repair shops where maintenance issues can be easily corrected:
Inland Truck Parts and Service
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Map of Semi Truck Repair Shops in Des Moines |
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Maintenance is critical to keeping an 18 wheeler truck running at optimum condition. |
Des Moines 18 Wheeler Brake Experts
Des Moines truck accident lawyers call upon experts that they use who specialize in truck brakes. If the accident is serious enough, and you contact a lawyer quickly enough, a seasoned Des Moines personal injury trial lawyer will know the right experts to contact. The trucking expert will be able to assess the brakes and gather any braking evidence from the scene of the accident on any Des Moines street, avenue, or major Interstate highway, including I-235, I-35, I-80, Hwy 6, US-69, US-6, SH 28, SH 5, or SH 415. The Polk County trial attorney will do what is necessary to preserve the evidence, protect your rights, and fully determine whether the cause of the truck accident was a braking issue.
18 Wheeler Accident Attorneys Serve Des Moines and Surrounding Cities
Serving clients throughout Central Iowa, including Ames, Anita, Atlantic, Belmond, Bevington, Boone, Cambridge, Carroll, Cedar Falls, Cedar Rapids, Chariton, Clarinda, Corydon, Creston, Des Moines, Earlham, Emmetsburg, Granger, Greenfield, Grinnell, Guthrie Center, Harlan, Indianola, Iowa City, Iowa Falls, Jefferson, Knoxville, Madrid, Marshalltown, Mason City, Montezuma, Nevada, Newton, Osceola, Oskaloosa, Ottumwa, Pella, Perry, Pleasantville, Praire City, Story City, Washington, Waukee, Winterset, areas in the vicinity of Des Moines International Airport, and other communities in Polk County and Warren County.
A Des Moines Truck Collision Lawyer can help you prove that the truck accident you were involved in was in fact due to the trucker’s negligence and that you are entitled to monetary damages. Contact a Des Moines Truck Accident Attorney today for a full explanation of your legal rights.