Improper Truck Loading

Sacramento Accident Lawyers Helping Victims Of Serious Truck Accidents

Truck drivers have a responsibility to properly load and secure a semi-truck but even the most experienced truck drivers know that the load could shift while driving on the highways. Improper cargo securement is a leading cause of truck accidents. In fact, according to statistics, 7% of serious truck accidents injuries are a result of a load shifting or falling off a truck. If the load is top-heavy it could cause the truck to roll over. If the load is loose, it could fall off the truck and into the lanes. If you’ve been injured by the cargo of a big rig truck, contact an experienced Sacramento accident lawyer for help.

Federal Guidelines

Because big rig trucks can cause severe injuries if crashed with another vehicle, there is great emphasis on making sure that the cargo is safe for the road and that trucks are not overloaded or overweight. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has very detailed and specific rules for cargo securement:

• “Cargo must be firmly immobilized or secured on or within a vehicle by structures of adequate strength, dunnage (loose materials used to support and protect cargo) or dunnage bags (inflatable bags intended to fill space between articles of cargo or between cargo and the wall of the vehicle), shoring bars, tie downs or a combination of these.”

There are many ways that improper cargo loading practices can result in serious accidents. Some of the more common kinds of accidents that are caused by cargo loading errors are:

• Rear-end accidents
• Rollover accidents
• Jackknife accidents
• Sideswipe accidents

All of these types of accidents can cause severe injury and even death. If you’ve been hurt by a big rig truck due to improper cargo securement, you need to contact an experienced attorney for help. You deserve compensation for the injuries you sustained due to the negligent act of truck drivers or shippers.

Unless you see a cargo strap come loose or a door fly open, it’s nearly impossible for other drivers to tell if improper loading was a factor of a trucking accident. Keep in mind that although the truck driver plays a crucial role in checking to see the cargo is loaded properly, shippers can load a truck as well. It takes an experienced attorney to carefully investigate what the cause was and how to get compensation you deserve.

Speak With Our Attorneys About Your Truck Accident Injuries

At The Weinberger Law Firm, we have represented numerous people who suffered serious injuries in collisions with commercial trucks. If you or a loved one suffered substantial injuries or death as a result of careless, negligent or irresponsible truck driving contact our big rig accident lawyer to discuss your accident. Call us today at 916-304-0952 for a free consultation regarding your case. We charge no fees unless we recover compensation for your injuries.