There are many factors involved in truck accidents. Sometimes drivers are responsible: the truck may jackknife into a passing car, the driver may not see a car in his or her blind spot or the truck may not stop in time if a vehicle slows down in front of it.
In some cases, the loading company can also be responsible for a truck accident. If the truck is loaded incorrectly, it throws off the vehicle’s balance. When you are dealing with 80,000 pounds of machinery, an improperly balanced truck is a serious road hazard. Truckers are trained to drive with a properly loaded vehicle; if that load shifts, physics take over and the driver might not be able to prevent an accident.
While the driver is responsible for checking on cargo at various points along the route, the driver might be carrying a sealed load, in which case he or she cannot open the cargo door at any point. If the cargo is not secured, it could disrupt the balance and cause a rollover. If the door is not secured, falling cargo could cause serious accidents.
If you were injured in load shifting accident, give us a call. The initial consultation is free, and together we can figure out what your options are.
The Metier Law Firm, LLC – Denver injury attorneys
You raise some very valid concerns here with regards to how trucks are loaded. This is a particularly timely issue here in Ohio, as the driver in one recent tractor trailer crash caught on video blamed his load shifting. You are right to point out the tremendous hazard this poses to the public, as improper loading can leave the driver powerless to prevent certain accidents—placing the driver’s own safety at significant risk as well.