Overloaded Trucks Can Cause Lethal Accidents

 Posted on November 28, 2022 in Truck Accidents

Trucks are an essential part of our economy, but they cause serious dangers when the people responsible for transporting goods are careless about ensuring that trucks are properly loaded. There are strict federal and state regulations that dictate how much cargo can be loaded in a certain amount of space and how that cargo needs to be distributed across a truck bed so that unsecured cargo accidents can be minimized. Unfortunately, these regulations are sometimes disregarded, causing truck accidents that have serious and fatal consequences. 

Why Is Overloading a Truck Dangerous? 

When a vehicle as strong and large as a truck is capable of carrying tons of cargo, a few extra pounds may not seem like a big deal. But an overloaded truck carries serious safety problems, including: 

• Greater risk of tipping and rollover accidents 
• Reduced ability to steer accurately 
• Going too fast down hills and being unable to control speed 
• Being unable to stop or slow down in time 
• Not being able to respond appropriately to inclement weather conditions 

Any one of these factors makes the likelihood of a truck accident much higher, especially when other vehicles are around. Even the best truck drivers are at risk of getting into accidents because they simply cannot control their vehicle as predictably. 

Worse, when an overloaded truck gets into a crash with another vehicle, the impact is more powerful. Most vehicles are much smaller than big rig trucks, putting passengers in the smaller vehicles at risk of serious and fatal injuries. Even if a truck does not directly impact a vehicle, the risks of an overloaded truck make accidents more likely in the following ways: 

• Contributing to spilled or fallen objects in the roadway, potentially hitting other vehicles or causing them to swerve dangerously out of the way
• Causing a truck to fishtail or overcorrect unpredictably, causing other vehicles to respond at high speeds 
• Increasing the likelihood that the truck’s tires will be unable to handle the load, causing them to blow off and shred pieces into other vehicles or the roadway 

How Much Time Do I Have to Take Legal Action After a Truck Crash? 

Dealing with a lawsuit when you are recovering from a loss or injury caused by a truck crash may be the last thing you want to do. But taking speedy legal action is essential - not only is there generally a two-year limit on taking legal action, but essential information like evidence can be lost over time. A Texas personal injury lawyer can help you manage the legal aspects of your case so you can focus on taking care of yourself and your family. 

Call a Van Horn, TX Truck Accident Lawyer

Truck accidents can change someone’s life forever. If you or someone you love has recently been injured in a serious truck accident, make sure you have the assertive, experienced advocacy of a Texas truck accident lawyer with James Kennedy, P.L.L.C.. Call us today at 915-544-5200 for a free, no-pressure consultation and learn more about the options you may have. 

Source: 

https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/cargo-securement/cargo-securement-rules