Florida Overloaded Truck Accident Lawyers
Overloaded Truck Accident
Among the most common causes of big rig accidents including speeding, driver fatigue and poor driver training, is the overloaded truck itself. According to the official regulations of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), the highest acceptable weight for large trucks is 20,000 pounds per axle. That means a limit of 80,000 pounds total.
The trucking company is responsible for ensuring that weight limits are followed and that the cargo is evenly distributed. The failure to do so can lead to shifting cargo when the truck is in motion contributing to the tractor-trailer jackknifing or rolling over. Additional weight on a large truck can also lead to break failures and tire blowouts.
The reason trucks are loaded beyond their limits is obvious. The trucking company wants to make more money faster. Overloading a vehicle means more product is delivered at one time.
Here are some of the dangers that overloaded trucks can create:
- Overloaded trucks have more difficulty stopping in time. Dangerously overloaded trucks can take up to a football field to stop at 55 mph and in that distance can easily collide with whatever is in its way.
- The additional momentum from the added load makes the injuries from a collision all the more devastating. Motorists hit by an overloaded truck can face devastating injuries such as traumatic brain injury (TBI), spinal cord injury, pain, paralysis or death.
- Cargo can also be improperly loaded, balanced, or measured when a driver or freight shipper wants to get a quantity of product to a receiver with the goal of profits.
- An overloaded truck by nature is putting more strain on the mechanics of the large truck such as the brakes.
- In addition, overloaded trucks damage our U.S. highways in a way that costs taxpayers and makes highway travel dangerous for motorists and motorcyclists. Debris spilled from an overloaded truck can scatter on the roadway. An unsuspecting vehicle, such as a motorcycle, coming up on the loose debris increases the chance of an accident.
Overloaded truck accidents are devastating to both the motorist and their families. If you or a loved one has been involved in an overloaded truck accident resulting in catastrophic injury, the experienced and knowledgeable Jacksonville overloaded truck accident attorneys at Farah and Farah are here to help. You don't have to fight for justice alone. Call our office at 1-800-533-3555 for a free consultation.
A Jacksonville Florida personal injury lawyer who is used to leveling the playing field for the motorist will need to have the track record to fight for the injured. The trucking companies know we are serious because we've done it so many times before. Call us for a confidential and comprehensive consultation on your case.