Truck Accident Lawyers

Causes of Truck Accidents: Overloading

Large trucks such as semis, big-rigs, tractor-trailers, eighteen-wheelers and other vehicular behemoths weigh more than 10,000 pounds and are designed to haul cargo. Unfortunately, many trucks are frequently overloaded. When a truck is overloaded, it is more of a danger than it appears to be.

The truck driver is responsible for the load that is being transported. As such, he or she is responsible for ensuring that the load is loaded correctly. It is not just a question of safety for other vehicles and drivers on the road, an overloaded or improperly loaded truck can also pose a serious safety risk to the truck driver. Really, it is in his or her best interest to check that the load complies with all regulations and restrictions.

When a vehicle is overloaded, the steering and braking systems are compromised. It takes the vehicle longer to stop; the vehicle goes uphill more slowly; and goes downhill more quickly. When going downhill, the brakes are forced to work harder which can trigger brake failure. When brakes fail, it is not hard to see that an accident is probable.

Overloading a vehicle also places undue stress on the tires for the vehicle. This can contribute to blow outs that are dangerous and also frequently cause accidents.

In addition to too much weight, a driver needs to check that the weight is not arranged in a way that places too much weight over one axle or a set of axles. Axles have a measuring system which tells a driver the maximum distributed weight that may be supported by them.

If you have been injured in an accident involving an 18-wheeler or other vehicular behemoth, contact the truck accident injury lawyers of Williams Kherkher at 1-866-950-9000 to discuss your case and to determine your legal options.