An overloaded truck presents a dangerous scenario waiting to happen. It is one of the most common causes of commercial truck accidents, resulting in serious injuries and deaths. At Presley & Presley, LLC, our team is determined to recover your entitled compensation to pay for medical expenses, physical therapy, loss of income, as well as pain and suffering.
Dangers of Overloaded Trucks
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) federal regulations, semi-trucks and tractor-trailers have an acceptable weight of 20,000 pounds per axle, with a total of 80,000 pounds for a four-axle truck. Commercial trucking companies and truck drivers are directly responsible for maintaining proper weight limits and that the cargo is loaded in a satisfactory and evenly distributed manner. Unfortunately, they often neglect to follow regulations in order to make a profit and meet deadlines at a quicker rate. Overloaded trucks can cause the following problems:
- Overloaded cargo can shift to the rear, making the truck more difficult to steer. If a trucker hits a curb or bump, the truck could tilt.
- Overloaded trucks tend to speed up when going downhill because of the added weight. However, this extra weight can make it more difficult for the driver to bring the truck to a complete stop.
- Too much weight can cause too much tire pressure, causing a tire blowout.
- Overweight trucks can cause a road to collapse or cause road faults.
- Overloaded trucks increase the chances of it rolling over.
