Large tractor-trailers often carry thousands of pounds of cargo at high speeds on highways alongside small passenger vehicles. If the cargo is not properly loaded, it can cause the trailer to sway, cross lane barriers, or even roll over. The resulting accidents from any of these events can be devastating for other drivers and passengers on the roads. When an accident occurs because of improperly loaded cargo, the driver may be only one of the possibly responsible parties. Therefore, you must also look beyond the driver to the person(s) or companies that loaded the cargo into the truck in order to hold the correct parties responsible for your injuries. A Coweta County trucking attorney can help you do just that.
A truck may have cargo loaded at several different stops at several different locations. Therefore, it may be difficult to immediately determine which of several freight handlers at which location was responsible for the improper loading. Ultimately, however, every truck driver should check to ensure the cargo is loaded correctly before he or she ever begins driving the truck. Furthermore, trucking companies have a responsibility to adequately instruct their drivers on how to identify improperly loaded cargo. Therefore, if the driver was not trained correctly, the company could also be at fault.
Some types of improper loading that may cause accidents include:
- Overloaded cargo
- Weight not distributed evenly in trailer
- Cargo is not properly secured or braced
- Cargo loaded too high in the trailer
- Trailer not approved for a particular type of cargo
- Improperly secured trailer doors
If any cargo is loaded improperly, it can cause sudden weight shifts in a trailer. If the truck is traveling at a high speed at the time of the shift, the trailer will react by swaying into neighboring lanes, risking hitting cars or medians or tipping over into traffic. The resulting accidents can be devastating. An experienced trucking accident lawyer can help you determine what or who caused the cargo shift and will make sure that person or company is held accountable for your injuries. Do not hesitate to call Shane Smith Law today at (980) 246-2656 to schedule a free consultation.