Stopping Distance For Trucks In Buffalo, New York

Contact Jed Dietrich, Esq., a recognized Best Lawyer of America and New York Super Lawyer, if You Were Injured in a Truck Accident in Buffalo, New York; Niagara Falls, New York; Rochester, New York or Throughout New York State.

The sheer size and weight of large commercial trucks greatly exacerbates the impact and damage that they can cause in the event of an accident. Big rigs and other similarly-sized trucks, when fully loaded, require much longer stopping distances than other vehicles. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the bureau responsible for the regulation of interstate trucking, regards great stopping distances to be one of the highest safety challenges for large commercial trucks.

Experienced truckers understand how great of a distance is necessary to stop their big, heavy trucks. When truckers ignore these factors and crash into other vehicles, the outcomes can be tragic. Often truck accident victims suffer life-changing injuries, such as paralysis or traumatic brain injury. Disfigurement, serious internal injuries and even death are also common consequences of truck accidents.

If you, or a loved one, were seriously injured in a truck accident, you may be entitled to receive compensation for your damages. However, insurance companies will try to get you to settle your claim for as little as possible. To ensure that you get the compensation that you deserve, you do not want to bring a claim against a big trucking company without an aggressive, tenacious and hardworking lawyer on your side!

The Dietrich Law Firm P.C.’s team of highly experienced and top rated Buffalo, New York truck accident injury attorneys have handled numerous cases for people who were injured in collisions caused by truck drivers.

Insurance companies have paid Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his highly experienced, top rated and elite team of truck accident injury attorneys in Buffalo, New York over $175,000,000.00 to compensate his clients for their serious personal injuries. Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. TODAY at 716-839-3939 for a free consultation if you were seriously injured in a truck accident. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, and there is never a fee unless we WIN for you!

Large trucks weigh roughly 20 to 30 times more than passenger vehicles. Large trucks and tractor-trailers often weigh up to 80,000 pounds, while the average passenger vehicle is only approximately 3,000 to 4,000 pounds. The substantial weight of trucks greatly impacts their rate of acceleration, handling and braking. In addition, when a truck is going down a steep hill, its weight forces it to speed up.

According to the FMCSA, a fully loaded tractor-trailer driving at normal highway speeds, under normal circumstances, needs about 525 feet to stop, which is almost the equivalent of two football fields. On the other hand, a vehicle that weighs 4,000 pounds would only take a little over 300 feet to stop. That is considerably more space needed for trucks than passenger vehicles.

Just imagine when a large truck is speeding or tailgating another vehicle—both of which are recipes for disaster. Other elements such as the truck’s load, curves on the road, weather conditions and tire wear also factor into required stopping distances.

Were you injured by a truck accident caused by a truck driver who failed to leave enough distance to stop? If you were, contact Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of aggressive, tenacious and hardworking lawyers and paralegals at the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today at 716-839-3939. We are available 24 hours per day and 7 days per week, and there is never a fee unless we WIN for you. Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of highly experienced Buffalo, New York truck accident injury attorneys will battle to obtain the best result for you if you were injured by someone else’s negligence.

Determining the Stopping Distance of Large Trucks

The total stopping distance of a vehicle is measured from when the driver first notices a potential hazard up until his or her vehicle reaches a complete stop. Total stopping distance consists of three main components:

1. The distance perceived: The total distance traveled by a truck when the driver first recognizes that it is necessary to reduce his or her speed or to stop in order to avoid any hazards.
2. The driver’s reaction time: The amount of time that passes before the driver touches the brake to slow down or stop the truck after he or she becomes aware of the need to do so.
3. The total braking distance: The distance traveled by a truck after the driver steps on the brakes until the truck comes to a complete stop.

Brakes on semi-trucks are not as efficient as the brakes on other vehicles. While most cars typically have hydraulic brakes, large trucks have air brakes, which undergo a lag time. When truckers initially step on the brakes, air has to accumulate and be distributed through the entire length of the truck before the brakes even begin to slow it down. This brake lag plays a huge role in increasing the distance and time needed to stop a semi-truck.

Jed Dietrich, Esq., who is recognized as a Best Lawyer of America and New York Super Lawyer, and his highly rated team of lawyers and paralegals battle for people injured by trucks in Buffalo, New York. Since 1999, Jed Dietrich, Esq. has exclusively represented people who were injured because of someone else's negligence, including many people who were injured in truck accidents. Put Jed Dietrich, Esq. and his team of Buffalo, New York truck accident lawyers to work for you, and allow us to investigate your claim and pursue the monetary compensation that you deserve for your injuries. We will help alleviate some of the stresses that you face during this challenging time so that you can focus on recovering.

It is important to exercise as much caution as possible when driving close to large trucks. Drivers should keep a safe distance from trucks speeding on an open roadway. If possible, drivers should try to provide trucks with additional warning of their intent to turn, merge or stop so that they have enough distance to stop safely. Additionally, defensive drivers must always have an escape plan to avoid any dangers on the road.

Some important tips for preventing an accident with a large truck are as follows:

1. When passing a truck, use your blinkers and make sure that you are far enough in front of the truck to warn of your intention to change lanes;
2. Never cut off large trucks;
3. Always allow for a safety zone, maintaining a safe distance between the truck in front of you;
4. Pay attention to approaching exits in the event that a truck makes an unanticipated lane change in order to exit; and
5. Do not drive in the truck’s blind spots—if you cannot see the trucker in his or her mirrors, then they will not be able to see you.

If you, or a loved one, were injured by a truck crash, contact the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. today at 716-839-3939. Our team of highly experienced and top rated truck accident injury attorneys in Buffalo, New York fight for the compensation that you deserve for the injuries that you suffered. This may include monetary compensation for your medical bills, lost time from work and pain and suffering.

One of the most common causes of large truck accidents is when truckers fail to adjust their driving to account for greater stopping distances. Often truckers collide into other vehicles because they did not allocate enough time to stop. This could be because the trucker was distracted, inexperienced or driving too fast.

When the appropriate precautions are overlooked or truckers act negligently, both the trucker and his or her employer may be held liable for any injuries that result. Victims of truck accidents are entitled to compensation for all of their injuries. Our accident reconstruction specialists, medical and financial experts can determine and help to prove the precise value of your claim. Through a personal injury lawsuit, victims can pursue recovery for damages, which may include:

1. Property damage;
2. Lost income;
3. Reduced earning potential;
4. Medical bills (past, present and future);
5. Permanent disability;
6. Pain and suffering;
7. Total disfigurement; and
8. Post-traumatic stress disorder.

If you lost a family member in a truck accident, you may have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit, which provides financial compensation to help deal with your loss.

Additionally, when the trucker acted with gross negligence or recklessness, punitive damages may also be obtainable.

If braking distance was a factor in a crash that left you or a loved one seriously injured, you may have a legal right to seek monetary compensation for your damages. Truckers have a responsibility to ensure that they drive safely, are aware of all of their surroundings and always factor in the required braking distances.

Trucking related accidents can be more complicated than ordinary car accidents because victims often have to deal with multiple parties. After your truck accident, our Buffalo, New York truck accident lawyers will use special investigate techniques to establish liability and build your case. Contact us today at 716-839-3939 to find out more about how we can help you!

WERE YOU, OR A LOVED ONE, INJURED AS A RESULT OF A TRUCK ACCIDENT IN BUFFALO, NIAGARA FALLS, ROCHESTER OR OTHER PARTS OF NEW YORK STATE?

CALL JED DIETRICH, ESQ. AND HIS TOP RATED AND HIGHLY EXPERIENCED TEAM OF BUFFALO, NEW YORK TRUCK ACCIDENT LAWYERS AT 716-839-3939 NOW TO OBTAIN THE HELP THAT YOU NEED!

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 716-839-3939 so that our aggressive, tenacious and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Buffalo, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!