Truck Accidents - When Weight Exceeds Capacity
Because they present such a noticeably-increased hazard on Florida’s highways, the maximum allowed towing capacity of large commercial vehicles is strictly-regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). When involved in an accident, a large truck’s exceptional size and weight can cause disastrous vehicular damage and personal injury, including an increased risk of mortality. When a truck driver exceeds the towing capacity of his or her vehicle, the potential for collateral damage in an accident becomes exponentially worse. The attorneys at our Daytona Beach law firm, Chanfrau & Chanfrau, have handled numerous trucking accident cases, and fully believe that drivers who knowingly endanger others on the road should be held accountable. If you’re in an incident involving a commercial vehicle, our trucking accident attorneys will help you determine what factors, such as overloading, may have been responsible.
What Happens When a Truck Exceeds its Limit
The reasons for weight limitations on cargo-towing trucks are many, and most of them are fairly obvious. An overloaded truck won’t be as balanced as it should be, and will be more prone to accidents due to a number of factors, such as;
- Greater weight distribution toward the back of the truck, slightly lifting the front of the truck and making it more difficult to steer
- Significantly-reduced vehicle reaction time when braking and accelerating, which is especially dangerous when travelling up or down a hill
- Inability to avoid debris and traffic because of limited mobility
- An overloaded truck can prove too much for the vehicle’s tires, which could burst en route and cause the truck to collide violently with other vehicles
- Increased risk of broken axles, transmission failure, and other mechanical problems while in transit, contributing to the risk of an accident
- Excessive cargo might not be secured properly, and can fall off of the truck and into the path of the vehicles behind it
How Do You Know a Truck is Towing Too Much?
When you see a loaded semi-truck on the highway, it’s nearly impossible to tell if it is overloaded just by eyeballing it. If you are involved in an accident with a commercial vehicle, however, a personal injury attorney from Chanfrau & Chanfrau will help you prove your claim by thoroughly investigating the accident and evidence.
Other Causes of Trucking Accidents
Even if a large truck hasn’t exceeded its weight capacity, you may still be entitled to compensation in an accident if you are not at fault. Besides overloading, driver negligence also contributes to many commercial vehicle accidents, and may include;
- Driver fatigue or distraction
- Mechanical failure due to poor maintenance
- Driver’s failure to recognize blind spots
- Driving while under the influence
- Speeding, swerving, and other unsafe driving maneuvers
Call Your Attorney
If you want more information about your legal options following a trucking accident, then contact the offices of Chanfrau & Chanfrau today. Our legal team looks forward to meeting you and helping you receive just compensation for injuries sustained and losses incurred due to negligent or careless commercial drivers.