Commercial trucks outweigh nearly every other vehicle on the road. When a semi-truck is involved in an accident, the consequences for smaller vehicles can be catastrophic, especially if the truck is overloaded. Excess weight makes these massive vehicles harder to steer, stop, and control, significantly increasing the risk of serious collisions.
Unfortunately, many overloaded truck accidents are entirely preventable. When drivers, trucking companies, or cargo loaders ignore federal and state weight limits, they put everyone on the road at risk.
If you or a loved one was injured in a crash involving an overloaded or overweight truck in Spring Hill, you may be entitled to compensation. The experienced team at LMD Injury Lawyers is here to help you understand your rights and pursue a personal injury claim with confidence.
The Federal Highway Administration regulates weight restrictions for commercial vehicles, with two primary goals. First, roads are made safer for everyone by limiting the amount of weight that a truck can carry, thereby reducing the risk and severity of accidents. Heavier trucks take longer to stop and can be harder to handle. During a sudden stop or sharp turn, an overweight trailer could interfere with the truck’s balance, causing it to roll over or jackknife. Second, weight restrictions on trucks also protect the infrastructure of the roads by reducing the wear and tear caused by heavy vehicles.
Truck weight limits are determined by how many axles the vehicle has. On interstate highways, trucks are generally limited to a maximum weight of 80,000 pounds, which includes the combined weight of the truck, freight, driver, and fuel. Truck drivers and trucking companies can obtain oversized or overweight permits in certain situations; however, they must comply with additional restrictions, which may limit their travel times.
If you believe a Spring Hill trucking accident was caused by an overweight or overloaded tractor-trailer, a dedicated local lawyer could investigate who might be to blame.
More than one party could be at fault if an overweight big rig caused a crash.
Truck drivers are responsible for conducting mandatory inspections of their vehicles before every trip and ensuring the vehicle complies with all weight restrictions. If a truck driver knowingly exceeds the weight limitations or fails to check the truck’s weight, they could be liable for any injuries sustained in an accident.
The trucking company could be responsible for the driver’s negligent acts, particularly if it failed to provide adequate training, instruction, and supervision of loading activities. The trucking company could also be at fault if it explicitly or implicitly encouraged the driver to overload the truck to increase the company’s profit margin.
If a third-party company packed the truck, it could be at fault for overloading. Cargo loading companies should be aware of and comply with weight restrictions.
The shipping company that sent the cargo to be loaded could bear some responsibility if it provided inaccurate weight information.
A determined Spring Hill attorney could review the accident evidence and build a robust claim against all responsible parties who allowed an overloaded or overweight truck on the road.
Every party involved in the cargo distribution chain should be aware of weight restrictions on commercial vehicles. When overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Spring Hill occur, someone should be held responsible.
Talk to a knowledgeable local attorney today to learn about your legal options and how you could seek the compensation you deserve.
727-849-5353