When trucks are on the road, they can pose significant dangers to other vehicles and drivers. The dangers posed by trucks are all the more present when trucks are not maintained properly or drivers fail to properly operate their trucks. Unfortunately, these types of mistakes occur far too often. And when these mistakes do occur, trucks can cause severe crashes on the road and cause significant injuries and even death.
One common cause of truck accidents is when cargo or a vehicle dislodges from a vehicle and falls into the road. These situations are particularly dangerous because they often occur at high speeds with little opportunity for other drivers on the road to react. Regardless of the size of the object coming from a truck, loose debris and lost loads pose a serious threat. Road debris includes substances, materials, and objects that are foreign to the normal roadway environment.
Trucks are particularly susceptible to causing road debris and losing trucks loads when there are open cargo areas with little protection. Common examples of accidents involving unsecured truck loads include unsecured boats or cars or improperly secured construction materials or machinery.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck accident caused by a lost truckload, contact The Pearce Law Firm for legal advice. Our experienced local injury lawyers can help protect your rights.
Cargo Regulations and Securement Requirements
In order to ensure that truck companies and drivers properly secure cargo being pulled, federal regulations require that cargo is properly secured when being transported on the roads. For example, truck and tractor drivers are required to “inspect the cargo and the devices used to secure the cargo within the first 50 miles after beginning a trip and cause any adjustments to be made to the cargo or load securement devices as necessary.” What’s more, a driver is required to reexamine a vehicle’s cargo and its load securement devices during the course of transportation and make any necessary adjustments.
Further, drivers are required to employ proper securing devices to ensure that cargo is properly secured to a vehicle or a trailer, such as through chains, ropes, binder, or winches. Too often, however, drivers and companies do not take proper precautions to secure cargo to trucks. And unfortunately, innocent drivers suffer when loose cargo falls from a truck and hits drivers.
Injured in a Truck Accident? Contact a Philadelphia Lost Load Truck Accident Lawyer
If you or someone you know has been injured in a truck accident caused by a loose load, The Pearce Law Firm can help you understand your legal rights. Our Philadelphia lost load truck accident attorneys have experience helping victims recover compensation for their injuries. We have a deep understanding of truck accidents and will help you today.