Naples Overloaded Truck Accident Lawyer
Commercial trucks are responsible for hauling a wide variety of cargo and materials on Florida’s roads. In order to protect those roads–not to mention the people who use them–there are strict federal and state limits on how much a truck can weigh when fully loaded. If a truck is overloaded, it poses a serious accident risk.
Indeed, many preventable truck accidents are the result of an overloaded vehicle. If you have been injured in such an accident, you have a legal right to demand compensation from a negligent truck driver or operator. At Cardinal Law, P.A., our Naples overloaded truck accident lawyer can review your case and devise a legal strategy for maximizing your ability to recover appropriate damages for your injuries.
How Excess Truck Weight Puts Everyone at Risk
There are many reasons why overloading a truck is dangerous. Some more the more common dangers that may contribute to an overloaded truck accident include:
- The excess weight places additional strain on the truck’s braking system–particularly when traveling downhill–making it harder for the driver to stop, which can cause a head-on accident or rear-end collision.
- The additional weight creates an imbalance that alters the commercial truck’s center of gravity, thus making a rollover accident more likely when the driver tries to make a turn.
- The equipment used to secure the truck’s cargo fails due to exceeding weight limits, leading the cargo to spill onto the road.
- Excess weight is a frequent cause of tire blowouts, which can lead the truck to veer wildly between lanes or spin off the road entirely.
In short, an overloaded truck is more difficult for the driver to control. And if a truck has been routinely overloaded by the operator, the cumulative effect of the added stress can substantially increase the risk of other mechanical failures. This is why overloading the trailer is often the first thing you need to consider when determining the cause of a commercial trucking accident.
Contact Cardinal Law Today
Overloaded truck accidents often involve multiple defendants. While the truck driver is ultimately responsible for safely operating their vehicle on Florida’s highways, the driver is often not solely responsible for loading the truck. If the driver is employed by a trucking company, that business has a legal responsibility to ensure their vehicles are safe, which includes making sure they are not overloaded. A trucking company must also ensure that their drivers and other staff–particularly those charged with loading and unloading vehicles–are properly trained in the appropriate weight limits for a given vehicle. In some cases, a third party may actually be responsible for loading a particular cargo load, which means they can be held accountable for failing to follow the applicable safety rules.
So as you can see, determining legal liability for an overloaded truck accident is no simple matter. This is where an experienced Naples overloaded truck accident lawyer can step in and help. If you have been seriously injured in an accident caused by a commercial truck, contact Cardinal Law, P.A., today to schedule a free initial consultation.
