Many times the cause of a truck accident or commercial vehicle accident is the result of a commercial truck not being loaded properly. Federal and state regulations mandate that no commercial motor vehicle can be driven on any public road unless the cargo for the truck is properly distributed and adequately secured.
The main idea here is to prevent a truck from ever entering the highway with an unsafely distributed load,. Common examples of an improper distribution of cargo include, but are not limited to:
- cargo not centered on trailer
- cargo not distributed over axles of trailer properly
- cargo not secured properly
- weight of cargo to high for type of truck or trailer
The truck driver, and vicariously the trucking company, have a duty to ensure the cargo load is secured properly when it is first placed upon the commercial vehicle. Importantly, this duty continues as the truck driver has a continuing duty to re-inspect or re-examine the cargo load at certain intervals of the trip. Failure to re-inspect the cargo could cause an accident and subsequent liability on the part of the truck driver and/or trucking company. Similarly, sometimes the trucking company or truck driver may try to haul more cargo than allowed by the regulations therefore resulting in a grossly overloaded truck. This can lead to a serious accident.
If you have been involved in a truck accident or a commercial vehicle accident call The Armstrong Law Group, P.A. for a free and confidential truck accident consultation.
We can be reached twenty-four hours a day at 904-356-8618. In the alternative, contact us in the email dialogue box on this page and tell us about your case. All consultations are FREE. Similarly, if you cannot come to us we will come to you.
