When another vehicle collides with a commercial truck, the driver or passengers in that vehicle are likely to suffer serious injuries. Truck accidents can occur for a variety of reasons, but unsecured cargo is one particularly dangerous issue that can affect everyone on the road. When a truck’s load is not properly secured, cargo may fall from the truck. This can damage other vehicles and harm drivers or passengers, or it may create debris in the roadway that leads to collisions between other vehicles. Cargo that is not loaded properly may also affect the balance of a truck, resulting in a rollover accident, and cargo that shifts during travel can cause a driver to lose control of their truck and collide with other vehicles.
Responsibility for Properly Securing Cargo
When a truck’s cargo is not secured correctly, and a truck accident occurs as a result, there may be multiple parties who are liable for the injuries and damages suffered by victims. These parties may include:
- The truck driver – If a driver did not properly inspect their truck to ensure that the cargo was fully secured, this is considered negligence. Drivers should not only inspect cargo after it was loaded, but they should also perform regular inspections throughout the course of a trip.
- Truck loaders – The person or company who was responsible for loading cargo on a truck must follow the proper loading procedures and ensure that cargo is secured correctly. A company may be liable for injuries which occurred because it failed to meet these requirements or because it did not provide proper training to its employees.
- The trucking company – If a trucking company did not provide the equipment necessary to safely secure a load, if it did not perform the proper maintenance or replace worn equipment, or if it did not properly train truck drivers on cargo inspection, the company may be liable for injuries suffered because of unsecured cargo.
- Equipment manufacturers – If the equipment used to secure a load was faulty or defective, the manufacturer of this equipment may be held responsible for damages that occurred as a result.
Contact Our Appleton Unsecured Cargo Accident Lawyers
Unsecured, overloaded, or falling cargo can be incredibly dangerous. If cargo-related issues cause a truck to collide with another car, truck, or motorcycle, or if debris in the road results in a pileup between multiple vehicles, those who were responsible for the accident should be identified, which will allow victims to recover compensation from all liable parties. At Herrling Clark Law Firm, Ltd., our Green Bay truck accident attorneys will investigate the circumstances of your accident and work to ensure that you are fully compensated for your damages. Contact us today at 920-739-7366 to schedule a free consultation.
Sources:
https://www.fmcsa.dot.gov/regulations/cargo-securement/cargo-securement-rules
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