When truck companies prioritize hauling as much cargo as possible over safety guidelines, truckers and other drivers on the road are at risk of severe injury. While state and federal laws dictate how much cargo tractor-trailers can carry, many companies push these guidelines and overload their trucks. As you can imagine, overloaded or overweight trucks are frequent in truck accidents.
Call our lawyers at Gideon Asen, LLC when you are hurt in an overloaded/overweight truck accident in Bangor. You may be able to pursue a civil claim against the negligent trucking company when injured in a wreck. When the company employing the driver who hit you fails to adhere to relevant laws, they could be liable for your damages. Our experienced tractor-trailer crash attorneys will work with you to pursue compensation for injuries caused by an overloaded semi.
What is the Danger of Overloaded Trucks?
An overweight truck—coupled with a driver on a tight delivery schedule—could potentially be disastrous. Heavy or overweight trucks put both the trucker in harm’s way as well as other drivers on the road. In Bangor, the most common dangers associated with overloaded or overweight tractor-trailers include:
- Rollover or jackknife semi-truck collisions
- Tire blowouts
- Falling cargo
- Brakes or other mechanical failures
- Road collapse
Overloaded commercial trucks pose a significant danger. It is more difficult for truckers to control or stop a heavy or overweight truck, and the consequences can be devastating. Therefore, truck companies must follow strict state and federal laws regarding cargo loads. Moreover, truckers should check the weight of their vehicles and follow the proper safety protocol to avoid collisions.
Proving Fault in an Overloaded or Overweight Truck Accident
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration imposes restrictions on cargo loads for commercial trucks. For example, a commercial truck’s maximum weight is based on the number of axles. Before embarking on a trip, the driver or loading manager must check the truck’s weight before sending the truck out for deliveries. Failure to properly check the tractor-trailer’s weight could make the trucker and their employer legal liability, especially when the negligence leads to a wreck.
Truck companies sometimes overload trucks on purpose to save time and money. They could be liable for subsequent injuries when they cut corners at the expense of other vehicles on the road. Anyone hurt in an overloaded truck wreck can file a personal injury claim against the driver and the cargo loading company with the help of a hardworking attorney in Bangor.
An Attorney in Bangor Can Help You Pursue Compensation After an Overloaded/Overweight Truck Accident
Truck companies must follow state and federal laws that limit the amount they can haul. Any company that fails to adhere to these guidelines is legally negligent. Anyone injured in a truck wreck due to heavy cargo can recover damages for their financial losses by filing a civil lawsuit. These losses could reimburse the injured driver for the cost of their medical care, lost income, reduced earning capacity, property damage, or mental anguish.
When you suffer injuries in an overloaded/overweight truck accident in Bangor, call our office to determine whether you have a claim against the trucker or any other responsible party.
