Trucking safety in the commercial freight industry depends on strict compliance with all regulations put in place by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA). These laws regulate all aspects of trucking, including maintenance, driving hours, weight limits, and freight loading. Failing to adhere to regulations and neglecting to take reasonable measures to prevent deadly truck accidents leaves one or more of the trucking company, driver, and freight loading company liable for damages to victims, like medical expenses and lost income. Speak with an experienced truck accident lawyer in Everett for legal guidance after an overloaded vehicle accident in Washington.
What Is an Overloaded Vehicle?
An overloaded vehicle in the trucking industry is one that exceeds the legal weight limit for the type of commercial carrier. Overloaded trucks are more difficult to control and maneuver. They are also more likely to have unsecured or inadequately secured cargo that may shift during transportation, increasing the chances of an accident. With the immense size and weight of commercial trucks, overloading cargo also increases the seriousness of a Washington truck accident, often resulting in catastrophic injuries or wrongful death to other motorists.
What Types of Accidents Does Overloading Cargo Cause?
Most federal and state regulations put in place by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMSCA) limit trucks to 80,000 pounds of weight when fully loaded. At this weight, they outweigh the standard cars they share the road with by as much as 76,000 pounds, presenting a significant danger. Despite the laws and weigh stations placed along trucking routes to monitor weight, some trucking companies intentionally overload freight vehicles so they can carry more goods with fewer trips. Overloaded trucks require longer stopping times and may have balance problems that can cause an accident. Common types of Washington truck accidents caused by overloading include:
- Rear-end collisions
- T-bone accidents in intersections
- Sideswipes from rocking, swaying, or swinging trailers
- Jackknife accidents
- Truck rollovers
- Head-on collisions
- Roadway departure accidents
- Truck underride accidents
- Truck override accidents
Truck accident scenes are often chaotic and terrifying. Overloaded trucks may spill cargo onto the road, causing multi-car accidents, toxic exposures, and other hazards to motorists.
Damage Recovered in Overloaded Vehicle Accidents in Washington
Even those fortunate enough to escape an accident with an overloaded truck with only minor injuries deserve compensation for their emergency room visit and a few days of lost pay. More serious injuries and fatalities are catastrophic for accident victims and their family members. Common damages recovered in Washington overloaded truck accident claims include past and future medical expenses and income loss, lowered earning capacity due to disability, compensation for pain and suffering, and sometimes other non-economic damages that apply in individual cases such as loss of limb, loss of organ function, loss of vision or hearing, or disfigurement compensation. Accident victims may also recover compensation for PTSD after an accident.
If an overloaded vehicle causes fatal injury to a loved one, their closest family member can recover funeral expenses, lost income and benefits for the number of working years the decedent had left to them, and compensation for their grief and anguish.
Call the Washington Truck Accident Lawyers With Experience In Overloaded Vehicle Accident Claims
A compensation claim against a truck driver, trucking company, or negligent freight-loading company has unique challenges and requires compelling evidence against the liable party. Reach out to the Everett injury lawyers with years of experience in these complex claims. Call Wells Trumble to maximize your chances of recovering full compensation in your claim.