Truck accidents can put Texas residents at risk for serious injuries. Improper cargo loading is one of the leading causes.
TYPES OF IMPROPER CARGO LOADING
Federal law determines how cargo must be loaded onto a commercial truck. Cargo must be secured in a certain way with specific tie downs and must have a certain weight limit to avoid potential trucking accidents. Unfortunately, mistakes and deliberate actions can result in improper loading, which can pose significant risks to everyone sharing the road with the truck. Certain types of improper charging are also common. These include the following:
- Cargo exceeding the legal weight limit
- Cargo that isn’t properly secured with the right tie-downs
- Using worn or used tie-downs to secure cargo
- Not properly pressurizing liquid cargo
- Not properly pressurizing gaseous cargo
- Improperly distributing the weight of the cargo from front to back or side to side
WHAT TYPES OF ACCIDENTS CAN OCCUR DUE TO IMPROPER CARGO LOADING?
Truck accidents can easily occur when cargo is loaded incorrectly. These accidents often result in catastrophic injuries that can be fatal. One of the most common accidents is a cargo spill. This occurs when improperly loaded cargo breaks loose from the truck and falls apart. Parts are often thrown onto the ground and other vehicles behind the truck, causing injuries.
Rollover accidents occur when too much weight is placed on one part of the truck. For example, too much weight on the left side can cause the truck to tip over to that side.
Rear-end truck accidents can occur when the driver is unable to control the truck or stop in time. This type of accident often leads to fatalities.
A tire blowout can occur when the load is too heavy. Too much weight on the tires wears them out faster and can cause a tire blowout.
Jackknife accidents are also common when cargo is improperly loaded onto a truck. The driver may lose steering control of the driver and swerve into another lane and strike another vehicle from the side.