Truck accidents happen for many reasons, and some of them are not as obvious as truck drivers getting distracted behind the wheel or driving while they’re too fatigued to safely be on the roads. In fact, if the driver did not load the truck themselves, they may be able to argue that the accident wasn’t even their fault. They could claim that the fault lies with the trucking company or the company that did prepare the load.
There are a lot of load-based issues that can lead to accidents. Some of them include:
- The load is not strapped down properly and it shifts while the truck is in motion. This often happens as the truck goes around a corner, and it can cause a rollover accident.
- The load is heavier than permitted for the vehicle. This increases stopping distances and can even cause the brakes to fail when trying to stop.
- The load is not properly balanced or the center of gravity is too high. Either one can put excessive force on the truck and cause it to roll or make it harder to control.
- The load is not secured to the trailer or bed of the truck and comes loose while driving. This can be devastating for anyone driving behind the truck.
- The load is positioned in such a way that it creates blind spots for the driver, and the driver then strikes a car, pedestrian, or cyclist as a result.
These are just a few examples, but they do help show how dangerous it is to share the road with large trucks. Those who get injured must know their legal options regarding fair compensation.