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5001 SW 9th St
Des Moines, Iowa 50315
Illinois / Minnesota / Iowa Semi-truck Accident Lawyer — Accidents due to Overloaded Trucks
An overloaded or improperly loaded truck can lead to a catastrophic accident on the road. Serving the Minnesota and Illinois regions, our semi-truck accident lawyer in Des Moines, Iowa is familiar with federal and state regulations regarding the safe and proper loading of commercial vehicles. If a trucking company or driver is negligent in the loading of large truck, which has led to an accident on our roadways, Fredd J. Haas can pursue compensation to cover financial losses that result.
Consequences of Overloaded/Improperly Loaded Trucks
Consequences of Overloaded/Improperly-loaded Trucks
Overloaded cargo, or cargo that is not loaded according to regulations, can cause a serious semi-truck accident in a number of ways. The cargo could add so much weight to an already over-sized truck that it causes top-heaviness, increasing the risk of jackknifing or overturning around curves. Overloaded or improperly-loaded cargo can also be apt to shift while in motion. In such cases, objects on the truck may be more inclined to fall off, leaving debris to rest in the roadway, or even falling directly onto another vehicle.
These objects can include heavy piping, appliances, logs, and even other cars. Small items that fall off of trucks can also be hazardous, causing sudden roadway obstructions that can force other drivers to make quick and dangerous maneuvers to avoid them. Instances of overloaded or improperly-loaded trucks can lead to multi-vehicle accidents that frequently result in serious injury or death.
Contact our Illinois and Minnesota-area semi-truck accident lawyer at Haas Law Offices, P.C. today for more information.
Loading Laws
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has implemented a number of extraordinarily specific laws pertaining to the safe and proper loading of trucks. The goal of the regulations is to reduce the number of accidents due to shifting cargo or falling debris from commercial vehicles operating in interstate commerce. These regulations include:
- Cargo must be firmly secured on or within a vehicle by structures equipped to hold it, including dunnage (materials used for cargo protection) or dunnage bags (inflatable bags used to fill space and prevent cargo shift); tiedowns; and shoring bars
- Cargo that is likely to roll must be restrained by wedges, chocks, or cradles
- Minimum requirements for tiedown restraints
- Special Purpose Vehicle requirements (vehicles carrying items such as heavy machinery, steel or concrete beams, crane booms, and other objects that require special restraining systems)
- Commodity-specific Securement Requirements (such as logs, metal coils, concrete pipe, heavy vehicles, and automobiles)
In addition to these requirements, a truck carrying a load that extends beyond its width or projects beyond the rear of the vehicle by more than four inches must attach various colored lights to the load to indicate the overhanging objects to other drivers.
Pursuing Compensation
The tragic consequences of falling debris or a jackknifed truck due to the overloading or improper loading of the vehicle can cause emotional and physical damage that lasts a lifetime. Fredd J. Haas is a Minnesota and Illinois-area semi-truck accident lawyer who helps victims and loved ones who have been affected by these accidents. He can work to achieve compensation in a number of areas, including:
- Medical Expenses
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
In some cases, our semi-truck accident lawyer can seek compensation for punitive damages against negligent companies, which may ensure they follow federal loading guidelines in the future.
Contact Our Semi-truck Accident Lawyer
No amount of money can erase the emotional damage caused by a trucking accident that results in serious injury or death. However, monetary compensation can provide a better sense of financial security for victims and their families and force negligent parties to account for their actions. Contact our firm serving Iowa, Illinois, and Minnesota today to speak with our semi-truck accident lawyer. Fredd J. Haas is an experienced attorney who is ready to fight for the rights of victims.