Overloaded, Overweight or Improperly Loaded Trucking Accidents

The average car weighs about 2,871 pounds. In contrast, a loaded truck weighs an average of 53,000 to 79,000 pounds. As you can imagine, the average vehicle is no match for a speeding truck if the two collide.

The massive weight and size of trucks can lead to severe injuries after an accident. Sometimes, a truck is overloaded, overweight or improperly loaded, which may have contributed to your accident. If you’re facing this scenario, then it’s important to learn about your legal options for financial recovery.

Was the Truck’s Weight or Loading a Factor in Your Accident?

Federal and state law both set weight restrictions for trucks. On top of that, truckers must submit to weighing stations to ensure compliance while on state highways. Going further, each truck’s manufacturer sets a weight capacity for each vehicle.

Despite all these rules and regulations, a trucking or loading company may intentionally or recklessly break the rules. This type of behavior can lead to severe accidents.

An overloaded truck is harder to control and very dangerous. Here’s why:

• Added weight makes it harder for trucks to stop
• Too much weight over time will impact the truck’s brakes
• The truck’s tires will wear out faster, which could lead to a blow out
• The truck’s engine suffers more strain especially while it’s going uphill
• Added weight makes it harder for the truck to negotiate around curves
• The trailer hitch can become dislodged or broken due to weight issues

Overall, too much weight can lead to mechanical failure or cause a truck to act in unexpected ways. Even worse, a truck that’s significantly overweight can damage the road itself. In some situations, roads have completely collapsed due to a truck’s weight.

Similarly, a loading company may not evenly distribute a truck’s cargo. This type of negligence can leave the truck driver off balance. Improper loading has been implicated as contributing to several multi-vehicle and rollover crashes.

Who is Responsible?

If the truck who hit you was overloaded or improperly loaded, then it’s possible you may be able to seek out a lawsuit against the trucking company. It’s the trucking company’s responsibility to ensure that their trucks do not get improperly loaded or overloaded.

If a truck is overweight, the company is responsible for seeking out a special permit. They are also required to display clear warnings on their vehicles. In some situations, a pilot car will need to travel in front of and behind a truck that’s overweight.

Contact a Perth Amboy Personal Injury Lawyer to Discuss Your Truck Accident Case in New Jersey

Did you or a loved one sustain serious injuries due to a truck accident in New Jersey? Don’t let the medical bills pile up while you wait for the negligent party or their insurance company to do the right thing. Right now, you need an aggressive personal injury attorney on your side, fighting to get you the compensation you need, want, and deserve. The skilled attorneys at CourtLaw represent clients injured because of truck accidents in Perth Amboy, Jersey City, New Brunswick, Roselle, and East Orange. Call 732-442-5900 or fill out our online contact form to schedule a free consultation about your case. We have an office conveniently located at 163 Market Street, Perth Amboy, NJ 08861 as well as offices in New Brunswick, Roselle, East Orange, Jersey City, Elizabeth, Linden, Newark, Paterson, South Amboy, and Trenton.

The articles on this blog are for informative purposes only and are no substitute for legal advice or an attorney-client relationship. If you are seeking legal advice, please contact our law firm directly.