Under federal law, semi-trucks traveling across state lines on interstate highways can have a gross vehicle weight rating—a maximum weight across the cab, trailer, and cargo combined—of 80,000 pounds. Unfortunately, some trucking companies intentionally break federal law by overloading their trucks to save time and money.
Putting too much cargo in a tractor-trailer makes it harder to operate and more dangerous in the event of a wreck. If you recently suffered an overloaded/overweight truck accident in Blue Bell, you shouldn’t have to pay for someone else’s negligence. Seek help from a winning attorney at Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers to get paid fairly for your losses.
What Makes Overloading a Tractor-Trailer So Dangerous?
Just like any motor vehicle, commercial trucks are designed for a certain maximum weight. Every single truck component is constructed with that weight limit in mind. While overloading a truck won’t always cause the components to fail immediately, it dramatically increases wear and tear on those parts. This also increases the risk of a part failing and leading to a wreck.
Bringing an 80,000-pound vehicle to a safe stop also requires specialized braking systems and a well-trained operator. Overloading a truck means even the most experienced driver may have difficulty stopping or slowing down. Overweight trucks are also more likely to tip off on sharp turns, jackknife during skids, and cause other accidents that may have otherwise been avoidable. Our experienced Blue Bell attorneys can help hold trucking companies accountable for dangerously overloading their vehicles.
Holding Someone Else Liable for an Overweight Truck Wreck
In cases involving overloaded truck crashes, the truck driver doesn’t always hold the blame for causing the incident. Many truck drivers have no say over what they carry, and they may be pressured into driving an overweight vehicle by their employer.
However, our Blue Bell lawyers can often hold trucking companies legally liable for inadvertently or intentionally allowing an overloaded truck on the road. Alternatively, the blame may lie with a specific supplier who participated in overloading the truck or with an inspector who signed off on an overweight truck being safe.
However, definitively proving that a truck was overweight can be extremely difficult since many companies will alter or even destroy shipping records to hide what they’ve done. Assistance from an experienced local attorney can be vital to tracking down available evidence and building the strongest claim possible after an overweight trucking crash.
Contact a Blue Bell Attorney After an Overloaded/Overweight Truck Accident
A commercial truck that’s heavier than the legal limit poses a serious threat to everyone on the road. If an overloaded truck collided with your car and caused you serious injuries, you deserve compensation for your losses.
Guidance from a respected lawyer can make all the difference in how your case proceeds following an overloaded/overweight truck accident in Blue Bell. At Ostroff Godshall Injury and Accident Lawyers, we’ve helped over 30,000 injured people across Pennsylvania recover the payments they deserved from negligent parties. Call us today to set up a free consultation and learn about your legal options for seeking justice.
