The Dangers of Overloaded Trucks and Unsecured Cargo

Commercial trucking is a dangerous industry. The sheer size and weight of large trucks can cause severe or fatal injuries even in the event of what otherwise might have been a relatively minor impact if the collision had been between two ordinary passenger cars. Human error, which includes careless driving, driver fatigue, or momentary inattention, is one of the most common causes of truck accidents. However, truck driver error is not always the cause. Sometimes, issues with the truck and its cargo, or negligence on the part of those who train commercial drivers, are the real offenders.

Overloaded Cargo

Commercial trucks are subject to various cargo weight limits depending on the base weight of the truck and the type of cargo they are transporting. If you have driven on the freeway in Los Angeles, particularly the 5 freeway, you may have seen signs for truck weigh stations. These are designated areas where commercial trucks and their cargo are inspected and literally weighed to ensure they do not surpass industry weight limit regulations.

The reason for weight limits is because carrying too much cargo can cause a truck to malfunction or barrel down the road at uncontrollable speeds, rendering the brakes ineffective. Sadly, despite knowing full well how dangerous overloaded cargo can be, truck companies still cut corners by occasionally overloading their trucks. Most often, they do so in the interest of profit. Other times, a cargo loader may have been negligent, either intentionally or unintentionally. It is not uncommon for cargo loaders to be insufficiently trained and accidentally overload a truck’s cargo.

Unsecured Cargo

Unsecured cargo can be extremely hazardous, even if the cargo is not too heavy for the truck. For instance, unsecured cargo may shift and cause the driver to swerve into traffic. Should unsecured cargo fly out of the truck, it may land on another vehicle and cause an accident. Even if motorists manage to avoid the cargo, they may swerve into another vehicle, causing an accident.

Trucking companies must take time to ensure that cargo loaders are properly trained in how to load cargo safely and securely. If they fail in this regard, the trucking company may be held liable for any ensuing injuries, including lost income, medical bills incurred, and compensation for ensuring pain and suffering.

Injured? Call Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman at (855) 948-5098.

Based in Los Angeles, Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman is a national law firm with a highly-qualified team of trucking accident lawyers, including Diane Marger Moore, who is a triple board-certified attorney. We are known for our award-winning legal capabilities, achieving groundbreaking verdicts and settlements for our clients in multiple areas of practice.

A couple of examples include the $15 million settlement we recovered for our client critically injured by a major trucking company and an $8.5 million verdict against Tyson Foods after a truck accident resulted in the wrongful death of a couple’s adult son. The latter was then the largest verdict for the death of an unmarried person in the history of Ohio, where the trial took place.

If a truck driver, cargo loader, and/or trucking company was negligent and injured you, Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman is here to help hold them accountable and obtain maximum compensation on your behalf.

Contact our esteemed Los Angeles trial lawyers online or at (855) 948-5098 today to book a risk-free case evaluation.