While the length and weight of semi-trucks creates a potential hazard for other motorists, improperly loaded big-rigs increase this danger by impacting the balance and total weight of these massive vehicles. The maximum weight for a fully loaded tractor-trailer under federal law is 80,000 pounds. However, the University of Michigan Transportation Research Institute (UMTRI) has conducted research revealing a big-rig loaded to capacity is twice as likely to be involved in a fatal trucking accident as a truck weighing 50,000 pounds. The UMTRI also has conducted other studies revealing that commercial trucks exceeding 100,000 pounds are far more likely to be involved in a collision and to cause more serious injuries.
Trucking industry regulations establish requirements for maximum loads and securing of loads. These standards are designed to limit the risk of trucking accidents caused by improper loads. When 18-wheelers are overloaded, they are less responsive to sharp steering maneuvers in response to potential hazards. Big-rigs that are overloaded also necessitate longer braking distances. The excessive demand on tractor-trailer brakes from an overloaded truck may also cause the brake system to malfunction or fail entirely.
When commercial trucks are improperly loaded or the load is not secured properly, the load may shift during transit so that the semi-truck is unbalanced. When the tractor-trailer is not properly balanced, the truck is prone to rollover and jackknife accidents. A tractor-trailer’s handling may also be adversely impacted when the vehicles center of gravity is distorted by a load that is not properly balanced.
Loads that are not properly secured also might fall from a semi-truck causing an obstruction in the roadway or might fall directly on a vehicle causing a collision. There are specific requirements that a load be tied down properly to prevent these types of mishaps.
Trucking accident litigation caused by improperly secured loads can be extremely complex. Improperly secured loads may be the result of negligence of the original shipper or any party involved in packing and loading the cargo which may happen multiple times before it even is loaded on the tractor-trailer. The trucking company may also improperly load the vehicle so that it is not safely secured. Our experienced Kansas trucking accident lawyers use trucking experts so that we can identify all potential defendants when a crash is caused by an improper load.
If you or someone you love has suffered serious injury in a semi-truck accident in Kansas, experienced commercial trucking accident lawyer William Cummings is committed to representing big-rig accident victims in Wichita and throughout Sedgwick County and the surrounding areas of Kansas. We offer a free initial consultation so that we can answer your questions and evaluate your legal claim so call us today at 316-264-1548.
