Federal trucking regulations stipulate that commercial trucks can carry no more than 20,000 pounds per axle, with the maximum weight limits generally set at 80,000 pounds, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Despite such weight limits, however, truck drivers and/or trucking companies may intentionally violate these regulations in an attempt to get more cargo to a destination faster. This type of negligence, which is entirely preventable, can endanger other motorists on the roads, as it can increase the risk of potentially deadly truck accidents.
How Overloaded Trucks Can Contribute to Truck Accidents
Some of the specific ways in which overweight trucks can contribute to truck accidents include that they:
- Increase the likelihood that essential trucking equipment (like, for example, the truck’s tires and brakes) will malfunction, as this equipment may not be strong enough to support or stop the extra weight of overloaded trucks
- Make it substantially more difficult to stop trucks – Truckers may not be aware of the fact that they need more time to stop overloaded trucks, which can be especially problematic if drivers need to stop short because, for instance, they weren’t paying attention to the road.
- Put more stress on roadways that may not be equipped to support such heavy vehicles (particularly if the roads are elevated or older)
- Can increase the chances of rollover accidents, especially if the cargo on overloaded trucks is not properly balanced
- Can cause far more catastrophic collisions even when trucks may be going at slower speeds, as there will be far more force upon impact with passenger vehicles or other motorists on the roads.
When overweight trucks play a role in causing truck accidents, both the truck driver and the trucking company may be held liable for compensating accident victims for their:
- Injuries, medical bills and future treatment expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages and future inability to work (when applicable)
- Mental suffering.
The Trusted Denver Truck Accident Attorneys at McLaughlin Law Firm
If you suspect that an overloaded truck caused your truck accident injuries, it’s time to contact the Denver truck accident lawyers at McLaughlin Law Firm For more than 35 years, our trusted attorneys have been aggressively advocates for truck accident victims’ rights, making them skilled at holding negligent and reckless parties responsible both inside and outside of the courtroom.
When truck accident survivors – including families who may have lost a loved one in a fatal truck accident – choose to work with us, they can always trust our lawyers to:
- Help them build the strongest possible cases
- Provide them with the personalized, professional attention their important legal matters deserve
- Provide them with the highest quality of legal services at every stage of their case
- Work diligently to help them resolve their case as beneficially and efficiently as possible.
Contact Us for a Free Case Evaluation
We invite you to learn more about your rights and get a thorough, professional evaluation of your case by meeting with us for a free, no obligations initial consult.
To set up this meeting today, call us at 720-420-9800 or email us using the form on this page.