Accidents involving tractor trailers raise a variety of issues different than do collisions involving cars. For example:
1. The brake systems for trucks and cars are vastly different. Tractor trailers are typically equipped with air brakes. Familiarity with an air brake system is necessary for a driver to safely use them. They must also be properly balanced or the steering and stopping distance of the truck can be affected.
2. Different truck body types affect operation. Liquid in a tanker can move or a load in a straight truck can shift if not properly secured. The improperly secured load can shift and impact the safe of the vehicle.
3. Stopping distance is different. It takes much longer for a truck to stop than a car.
The Commercial Motor Vehicle Safety Act passed in 1986 requires states to meet minimum standards for commercial driver's licenses. It requires that certain basic paperwork be kept on each employee as part of a personnel file. A record of the driver's duty status is also required and keep maintenance records on the truck. Many companies now use a computer terminal in the cab to log driver's times, GPS, company communications and pagers.
Many tractors also include an on board computer (electronic control module (ECM)) which measures vehicle speed, distance, driving time and a multitude of additional information.
There are substantial differences between a car and truck involved in an accident. A lot more information is available through the discovery process which a lawyer can obtain on behalf of an injured plaintiff.
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