Fort Myers Unsecured Cargo Truck Accident Lawyer
We all depend on tractor-trailers and other commercial trucks to transport cargo across the country and into our local communities. Of course, it is critical that such cargo is properly secured and transported in a safe manner. Unfortunately, that is not always the case.
When a truck’s cargo breaks loose during transport, it can suddenly shift the weight of the vehicle, causing the driver to lose control. Or the cargo may fall off the truck entirely and spill onto the highway. In either scenario the result is often catastrophic for other drivers on the road who are unable to avoid a collision with either the out-of-control Big Rig or its spilled cargo.
These types of accidents can almost always be traced back to some form of negligence. An experienced Fort Myers unsecured cargo truck accident lawyer can assist victims with investigating the specific circumstances leading to their crash. At Cardinal Law, P.A., our team can review every detail of an accident and represent you in taking appropriate legal action against the responsible parties.
Unlike most passenger vehicles, commercial trucks used to transport cargo are subject to strict regulations enforced by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). The FMCSA not only establishes maximum weight limits for cargo. It also requires drivers and truck operators to regularly inspect their loads to ensure they remain secure during transit.
Even with regulation, however, unsecured cargo accidents still happen on a fairly regular basis. There can be a few reasons for this:
- The cargo may not have been properly loaded to start with.
- The devices to secure the cargo were defective, worn, or misused in some way.
- During transport, the driver operates their tractor-trailer recklessly, such as by speeding or moving sharply around a curve, causing the cargo’s restraints to fail.
You may not think that cargo containers coming loose would be a big deal. But keep in mind, anything that affects the distribution of weight within an 80,000-pound commercial semi-truck can quickly throw it off-balance. This can lead to either a rollover where the truck falls onto its side and rolls onto its roof, or a jackknife accident where the trailer loses traction and slides towards the cab at an angle. In either scenario, the result is a tractor-trailer strewn across the highway with the potential for endangering dozens of vehicles faced with a sudden unavoidable hazard.
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Unsecured cargo often sets off a chain reaction that leads to innocent people being seriously injured or even killed. Additionally, when an out-of-control semi-truck rolls over or runs off the road, there is often substantial property damage. All of these losses can support a demand for compensation against a negligent truck driver, trucking company, or third party who was responsible for loading the cargo initially.
So if you have been seriously injured due to an overturned commercial vehicle and need legal assistance from a Fort Myers unsecured cargo truck accident lawyer, contact Cardinal Law, P.A., today to schedule a free initial consultation.
