Did you know that commercial haulers should only carry so much weight? Did you know that how truckers place cargo and secure it to their vehicles matters? Well, it is true and when truck accidents happen, investigators often look at these two factors to see if they contributed to the event.
Georgia residents have seen their fair share of truck accidents over the years. They happen all the time. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration has put out very specific rules and regulations to which truck drivers and their employers must adhere. Unfortunately, that does not always happen, and accidents take place. When crashes do occur, drivers and employers can hold responsibility for any losses suffered by the victims.
Weight issues
There are various types of commercial trucks out there. Each serves a different purpose. Each can only hold so much weight. It is up to the drivers and their employers to know the limits and ensure their trucks are never overloaded.
When a truck is overloaded or if weight is not evenly distributed, it can cause a truck to have balance issues. Have you ever seen a semi on its side? This can happen for a number of reasons, weight-related balance issues being one of them.
The problem with cargo
Loading up a truck or putting items on a trailer seems like a simple enough task. However, there is more to it than just getting stuff in or on the vehicle. FMSCA has rules regarding how to secure cargo. They include:
- Not exceeding the truck weight limit
- Proper securement to anchor points
- Must use proper ties
- Must use the right number of ties
A truck driver and those responsible for loading the truck need to know the vehicle’s limits, and they need to know how to properly anchor different types of cargo.
Why does all of this matter?
If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a truck accident this information may matter. Truck accidents happen for a number of reasons, and some of those reasons are negligent loading and securing of cargo. This is information you will want to find out, as you may be entitled to pursue civil actions against the truck driver, his or her employer and anyone else responsible for loading the truck if the FMCSA guidelines were not followed.
