Approximately 130,000 people suffer from severe injuries due to unsafe and unbalanced truck loads. Some of these injuries are life-altering, and for the unfortunate many, some die due to the negligence of these truck drivers who carry a large truck load.
If you recently sustained injuries at the expense of an uneven or unbalanced truck load, you have the right to seek compensation for your damages. Please continue reading below to learn more about the devastating effects of these accidents. We will cover all you need to know about what causes oversized truck load accidents and who you can contact to help you understand your rights in this type of situation.
What Are the Dangers of an Unsecured Truck Load?
Large trucks typically carry a lot of cargo in the back of their trailers. When these trailers have unsecured or unbalanced cargo, they can pose a serious threat to other drivers.
For example, if a commercial truck driver tries to make a turn, but the load in the back is unbalanced, it can cause the truck to tip over. Once that momentum starts, there is no stopping it until the truck comes to a rest, putting the driver and vehicles nearby in great danger.
Rear-end Accidents
In general, when driving at a speed of 65 mph, it takes commercial trucks about 525 feet to come to a complete stop. This is almost the length of two football fields.
When you factor in a heavy load in the back of the truck, that stopping distance nearly doubles. If a truck is unable to come to a complete stop, it can rear-end multiple vehicles in front of them, causing fatalities and severe injuries.
Jackknife Accidents
These types of accidents happen when a commercial driver tries to make a quick and sudden turn, forcing the trailer to wing around the truck's cab. When this happens, the driver no longer has control of the vehicle, and the trailer can sweep vehicles once that momentum starts.
Unsecure Cargo Accidents
Have you ever driven down the highway and saw cargo flying off the back of a truck? That is the risk that comes with unsecured cargo.
There are laws that mandate trucks to secure their load before they head out onto the road. Unfortunately, not everyone does. If you were involved in an accident where cargo flew off a truck and hit your vehicle, causing severe damages and injuries, you might be entitled to compensation.
Are There Laws Governing Truckloads?
Yes, there are several laws truck drivers must abide by regarding how truck drivers load their cargo. For example, some laws govern how the commercial truck company must place the cargo and how much weight a truck can carry at one time. There are also rules that cover when and how a driver should use a tie-down to avoid having an unsafe load.
These rules are in place to help avoid oversized truck load accidents, but unfortunately, there are accidents that happen all the time. You may want to seek legal representation if you recently sustained injuries in an accident where a commercial truck driver caused the accident.
Who Is Responsible for Oversized Truck Load Accidents?
There are several different factors at play when it comes to determining who is at fault for your damages. The person responsible for loading the truck may be held liable, or the driver or the truck might be the one to blame.
There is also a chance that the trucking company overlooked the issue and forced their driver to move on in order to meet their bottom line. Regardless of who was at fault, they still owe you for your injuries and other types of damages.
Instead of dealing with trying to figure out who is at fault for the accident, you can turn that over to a reputable attorney to handle it on your behalf. They will use their resources to find out who they need to contact to ensure you receive the compensation you deserve.
How To Prove Liability After an Accident With an Unsecured Truck Load
After a devastating accident like this happens, you have to prove to the truck driver's insurance company that they are liable for the incident. Evidence that is useful in establishing liability are truckers' driving logs and the company's cargo records.
Additional evidence helpful in proving your case:
- Accident reconstruction experts
- Witness information
- The driver's bill of lading
The bill of lading is a legal document that details the cargo's quantity, type, and destination in the back of the truck. It also serves as a receipt when the carrier delivers those goods.
If there is any evidence that the load the driver was carrying was over the legal limit, it could help to prove that they were driving under unsafe conditions. These conditions could also be proven to be a catalyst for the cause of your accident.
Help With Oversized Truck Load Accidents
There are several laws governing how a commercial driver must secure their truck load. If they don't, it can lead to severe accidents, leaving other drivers, like yourself, with detrimental injuries and property damage.
Unfortunately, dozens of truck drivers continue to drive their trucks, even if their load is not secure or if they carry too much weight. If you recently sustained injuries at the hands of a commercial truck driver and their unsecured or oversized load, contact us. We offer free, no-obligation consultations and are here to answer any questions or concerns you may have about your case.