Overloaded/Overweight Truck Accidents in Bedford

Commercial truck accidents are some of the deadliest types of motor vehicle accidents. In recent years, Texas has seen an increase in serious truck collisions, many of which result from overweight loads. Overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Bedford often lead to severe consequences for passengers in smaller vehicles.

When an overweight tractor-trailer hits you, contact a dedicated truck wreck attorney to discuss your options for seeking compensation for your injuries. Our legal representatives could assist you with investigating the cause of your accident and determining who you can recover damages from for your injuries.

What Are the Hazards of Heavy or Overweight Commercial Trucks?

Truck companies and their drivers must follow strict regulations regarding weight limits and loading cargo onto trucks. Companies often overlook these safety regulations to make delivery deadlines or cut costs. An overloaded truck and a driver on a tight delivery schedule are a recipe for disaster on the road.

Heavy loads do not only put the trucker at risk but also put other drivers on the road at risk. Common hazards of overloaded or overweight trucks include:

· Rollovers

· Tire blowouts

· Falling or spilling cargo

· Worn brakes or other mechanical failures

· Road collapse due to weight

While unsafe truck driving behavior in Bedford is often the cause of truck accidents, overloaded or overweight commercial trucks pose a significant danger. It is more difficult for truckers to control or stop an overloaded or overweight truck, and the consequences can be devastating.

Weight Restrictions for Commercial Trucks

Recognizing the significant dangers of overweight trucks, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and other state agencies impose restrictions on cargo loads. The federal government sets the maximum weight a commercial truck can carry based on its number of axels. The driver or loading manager must check a truck’s weight before sending the tractor-trailer out for deliveries. Failure to properly check the truck’s weight could result in a devastating collision when the trailer is overweight.

Who is Liable for an Overweight Truck Wreck?

Truck companies sometimes overload trucks on purpose to save time and money. When employers cut corners at the expense of everyone on the road, they could be liable for subsequent injuries. Anyone hurt in a truck accident can sue the trucker and their employer under a legal theory called respondeat superior. An employer is responsible for their employee’s negligence if they wrecked during the course of their employment.

When the loading company or trucker ignores cargo loading regulations in Bedford, and it leads to a semi-truck wreck, drivers on the road may suffer significant injuries. Injured people can file a civil claim against the driver and the cargo loading company. Truck drivers can also seek compensation from the loading company if they are unaware of the unsafe condition of the truck.

Discuss Compensation for an Overloaded/Overweight Truck Accident With a Capable Attorney in Bedford

Anyone hurt in a truck wreck can recover damages for their financial losses, including medical bills, lost income, reduced earning capacity, or property damage. Injured people can also seek damages for emotional trauma as well as their pain and suffering. When you suffer injuries in an overloaded/overweight truck accident in Bedford, contact our seasoned legal team members to schedule a consultation and discuss filing a claim for compensation.