Improper Cargo Weight Distribution

Improper Cargo Weight Distribution

Truck accidents in Fort Worth, TX, can happen for many reasons, including careless driving and equipment failures. They can also result from improper cargo weight distribution when the shipper or trucking company loads the trailer. This error can cause devastating accidents when the load shifts or the driver loses control of the truck in Fort Worth, Texas.

The trucking company is typically liable for your injury-related losses when your Fort Worth improper cargo weight distribution accident lawyer proves the trailer was loaded incorrectly. A Fort Worth improper cargo weight distribution accident attorney from Stephens Law Firm, PLLC has connections with experts who analyze truck crashes and can provide evidence to support your injury compensation claim.

You may suffer significant financial and quality-of-life losses after being injured in a truck accident in Fort Worth, TX. Call us at (817) 420 7000 for a free consultation with a Fort Worth truck accident lawyer to discuss your accident and how we can help you recover compensation for your injuries.

How Stephens Law Firm, PLLC Can Help After An Accident In Fort Worth, TX

How Stephens Law Firm, PLLC Can Help After An Accident In Fort Worth, TX

Stephens Law Firm, PLLC was founded 22 years ago to represent injured clients in Fort Worth, Texas, against at-fault parties and their insurers. Our Fort Worth personal injury attorneys have over 25 years of experience fighting for the rights of accident victims and have earned a reputation for being difference-makers in our clients’ lives.

Our Fort Worth personal injury lawyers provide the following services to people injured by the negligent or wrongful actions of others:

  • Listen to their stories and explain their legal options
  • Gather evidence and file their insurance claims
  • Negotiate with insurers to settle claims quickly and fairly
  • Litigate against at-fault parties when their insurers refuse to settle

A truck accident can leave you with catastrophic injuries that require expensive medical care and cause lifelong disabilities. Contact us for a free consultation with a Fort Worth truck accident attorney to discuss your injuries and the compensation you can seek from the trucking company.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) studied the causes of truck accidents in the U.S. The research showed that trucks were responsible for over 55% of collisions, while other vehicles were blamed in less than 45% of cases.

This statistic does not necessarily mean that truck drivers are less competent than non-commercial drivers. On the contrary, they are highly trained and strictly monitored. However, semi-trucks are complex machines, and any problem with the driver, truck, or cargo can lead to a collision.

Most causes of truck accidents arise from driving behaviors, like speeding, or equipment failures, like tire blowouts. Shifting cargo was blamed for about 4% of collisions — or roughly 6,000 truck crashes per year. Thus, improper cargo weight distribution is a significant reason for truck accidents even though it is not among the most common causes.

Truck Accidents Caused By Improperly Loaded Cargo

Improperly loaded cargo poses the following risks:

  • Loose cargo can shift unexpectedly
  • Unevenly distributed weight can cause equipment failures
  • Improperly loaded trailers affect truck handling, particularly cornering

Thus, issues with a truck’s cargo pose several dangers. The truck may be more likely to roll over during normal maneuvering. For example, a truck could roll over from a gust of wind even though the driver did nothing wrong.

The truck could also become more difficult to control, particularly when making emergency maneuvers. Improperly loaded cargo could cause a truck to roll over while braking or turning to avoid a road hazard. An improperly loaded trailer might even cause the driver to lose control during normal maneuvering, such as cornering or braking.

Finally, a truck with unevenly distributed cargo is more likely to suffer a breakdown. The uneven weight may cause the tires to wear faster or make the brakes less effective on one side of the vehicle. It could even damage the trailer hitch, resulting in detachment.

Common Truck Accident Injuries

Every truck accident is unique. However, because of the massive weight involved, a collision with a truck can cause more serious injuries than an automobile collision. 

As a result, you might experience the following truck accident injuries:

Fortunately, federal law requires trucking companies to carry hundreds of thousands of dollars in insurance policies and surety bonds to pay for the injuries and property damage they cause.

If the trucking company improperly loaded the trailer, it may be liable for the resulting crash. Companies must exercise reasonable care when they load, operate, and maintain trucks. They are also responsible for any negligence committed by employee drivers under a doctrine called “respondeat superior.”

Truck drivers are responsible for checking their loads before driving. If any reasonable truck driver would have known that the load was improperly distributed, the truck driver involved may have been negligent by not reloading the trailer. This means the truck driver may be liable even if the shipper loaded the truck because the driver is responsible for checking it.