Overweight And Overloaded Truck Accident Attorney In Dallas
Being in a motor vehicle accident with an overweight or overloaded truck can result in disastrous consequences. What’s worse, it can be extremely difficult to prove that the truck was overloaded or improperly loaded to hold someone responsible for your injury and damages.
Here at Law Office of Dorothy Hyde, our Dallas overweight and overloaded truck accident attorney knows what it really takes to recover damages, especially when you are up against a trucking company that is trying cover its tracks and destroy evidence proving that the truck was not loaded in compliance with federal and state regulations.
Why overloaded and overweight trucks are so dangerous
“Why is this so serious?” you may be wondering. Why do overweight and overloaded trucks pose such a serious threat to the safety of motorists and the trucker himself or herself? When a truck driver is operating a truck that is carrying more weight or more cargo than its maximum capacity, the trucker is more likely to lose control of the vehicle and may fail to break in time to avoid a collision.
Overweight and overloaded trucks also carry the risk of tipping over. “In some cases, the cargo of an overloaded truck may even become loose and crash into other motorists or pedestrians,” warns our experienced overweight and overloaded truck accident attorney in Dallas.
Federal and state laws regulating cargo restrictions and maximum weight capacity
There are several federal and state agencies that govern not only truck operations but also the maximum weight capacity of cargo that semi-trucks, 18-wheelers, big rigs, and trailer trucks are allowed to carry. When imposing size and weight restrictions on truck vehicles, many factors come into play, including but not limited to the truck’s gross weight, working load limit, the number of axles, and its braking ability.
In order to ensure that trucking companies and truck drivers are following these laws, there are special weigh stations and other inspections programs preventing overloaded and overweight trucks from driving on U.S. roads and highways. Still, many trucking companies and drivers manage to bypass these inspections programs so that they can carry more cargo in fewer trips.
Dangers posed by overloaded trucks
Unfortunately, those who break these laws endanger themselves and other motorists on the roads and highways. But what makes overloaded and overweight trucks so dangerous?
- An overloaded truck puts extreme pressure on its tires, which can result in an accident caused by a tire blowout
- It is much more difficult to operate an overloaded truck, because too much cargo affects its stopping time, braking ability, as well as speed
- An overloaded truck becomes very unpredictable when traveling downhill
- An overloaded truck requires a longer distance to stop
- An overloaded truck has a higher center of gravity, which can lead to rollover and tip over truck accidents
- An overloaded truck whose cargo has not been properly secured may lose its cargo and
- An overloaded truck can do severe damage to roads, highways, and bridges (wear-and-tear)
Liability in an overloaded truck accident
Okay, now that we have established that overloaded and overweight trucks are super dangerous, let’s figure out who can be held responsible for accidents caused by improperly loaded or overloaded trucks.
More often than not, a trucking company can be held liable for your injury caused by a truck accident with an overloaded truck, because it is the company’s responsibility to load trucks. However, in some instances, truck drivers can be held responsible, too, especially if they knew or should have known that the truck they are driving exceeds the maximum weight capacity of cargo.
Speak to our lawyers at Law Office of Dorothy Hyde to determine liable parties in your particular case and preserve evidence proving that the truck was overweight or overloaded. Schedule a free consultation by calling at (214) 883-1700.