Recover Compensation from an Overload or Lost Load Highway Accidents in Florida

When an 18-wheeler or other large truck loses its load on the highway, the consequences can be catastrophic. Drivers and passengers can be left helpless to protect themselves, and in many cases multiple victims will sustain severe traumatic injuries. The same is true when truck drivers lose control because their trailers are overloaded. Unfortunately, while these accidents are entirely preventable, our Florida truck accident law firm knows they are all too common on Florida’s highways.

If you have been injured in one of these accidents, or if you have lost a loved one in an accident involving a semi-truck or tractor trailer, you should discuss your legal rights with an attorney. Our phones are answered 24/7, and we can arrange for you to speak with one of our attorneys as soon as possible.

What is an Unsecured Load?

Commercial trucks can carry an extraordinary amount of cargo. Tractor trailers can carry loads weighing tens of thousands of pounds, and this volume of cargo can present extreme risks if it is not properly secured. Not only can unsecured cargo come loose and spill onto the roadway; but, even if it remains on the truck, it can significantly hinder the truck driver’s ability to maintain control.  

What Causes Unsecured Load Truck Accidents?

There are various factors that can cause unsecured load truck accidents. When our attorneys investigate these types of accidents, we look for evidence of negligence such as:

• Failure to ensure that cargo is properly secured prior to transport
• Failure to pressurize liquid cargo such as water, gas or oil
• Improper use of tiedown straps or other mechanisms to secure cargo resulting in failure
• Tiedown strap failure due to wear, improper use or product defects
• Using the wrong type of truck to deliver a specific type of cargo

Reducing the Risk of Overload/Lost Load Car and Truck Accidents

Given the extreme risks associated with an overloaded truck barreling down the highway or a truck losing its cargo load in traffic, there are several precautions that trucking companies and shipping companies must take in order to prevent these events from occurring. For example, steps that these companies can – and should – take to prevent dangerous overload/lost load car and truck accidents include (but are not limited to):

• Complying with the trucking safety regulations promulgated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA)
• Weighing trucks prior to transport to ensure that they are not overloaded
• Ensuring that trucks’ cargo loads do not exceed their gross vehicle weight ratings (GVRWs)
• Inspecting trucks before they leave the warehouse or port to ensure that all cargo is properly secured
• Performing routine maintenance and inspections to ensure that all mechanisms used to secure cargo are in good working order

Contact a Florida Truck Accident Attorney Today for a Free Consultation

If you have been injured in an accident involving an overloaded truck or a truck that lost its cargo load on the roadway, our attorneys can help you recover just compensation. For a free, no-obligation consultation, please call 800-780-8607 or contact us online today