One of the major causes of truck accidents is cargo that has been inadequately or poorly secured during transit.
Imagine driving along on a local interstate when suddenly a large cargo item flies your way. With nowhere to go, drivers are forced to veer off the road into traffic, or may not even have time to react. Unfortunately, loose cargo accounts for over 50,0000 accidents per year.
The trucking accident lawyers at Pope & Howard, P.C. specializes in helping clients get the compensation they deserve following a truck accident. Read below to find out how truck cargo can cause dangerous accidents on the roads of Atlanta, or contact our law firm today about your trucking accident case.
While truck drivers have numerous regulations and rules they must following, how the cargo is stored and secured is a very important factor. If this issue is neglected, serious consequences can occur. Here are some of the many different reasons that truck cargo can shift and cause serious accidents.
Cargo must be distributed evenly across the trailer to ensure that the truck is not top heavy or overloaded. If top heavy or overloaded, tractor trailers can be imbalanced. This load imbalance can cause trucks to malfunction when moving or tumble over when it would otherwise remain upright. When cargo isn’t properly restrained inside of the truck, it can fall over, creating this imbalance.
Truck drivers must properly secure their cargo to keep it from falling off the trailer and causing an accident. Federal regulations are in place to keep drivers safe:
When cargo isn’t properly secured, serious injuries, property damages, and even death can occur. Truck drivers who do not secure their truck cargo may be liable for the resulting harm and injury of other drivers.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident or collision due to unsecured cargo, it’s important to contact an experienced truck accident attorney right away. Pope & Howard, P.C. is one of Georgia’s leading personal injury law firms. Partners Marc Howard and Geoff Pope are experienced in trying truck accident cases, and are dedicated to helping clients get compensation following an unsecured cargo accident or other wreck on the road.
Contact us today at 404-885-9999 or fill out our online form for a free consultation at our office in Atlanta.