Tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, and other large commercial vehicles can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when they have fully loaded trailers. Considering the average passenger car weighs at most 4000 pounds, that already creates a large disparity in size. When trucking and loading companies try to add even more weight to these vehicles, they can contribute to overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Bloomfield, which risk the lives of other people on the roads.
When you suspect an overloaded commercial vehicle was the cause of an accident that hurt you or your loved one, you may have a lot of questions about what steps to take to protect your rights. A trusted local truck wreck attorney could give you the attention your case deserves. Let our team take the time to answer your questions and offer you knowledgeable advice and guidance. Call today.
What Makes a Truck Overweight or Overloaded?
New Jersey and the federal government have both enacted regulations that set specific maximum amounts of weight for specific commercial vehicles. These regulations determine how much weight a type of truck can carry based on the individual vehicle’s design, braking system, suspension, and powertrain.
Truck drivers, trucking companies, and cargo companies need to adhere to these strict weight limitations. New Jersey highways have several weigh stations that are intended to help enforce the weight restrictions. Unfortunately, some trucking companies are more concerned with their bottom-line profit margin than they are with adhering to road rules and safety. Some trucking and freight companies still sometimes violate these restrictions by overloading their trucks in order to deliver more cargo and make more money.
Our qualified attorneys understand how traumatic trucking crashes can be. If it turns out that an accident occurred because someone overlooked long-standing federal and state weight regulations, our dedicated legal team can fight for what is right.
Dangers Posed by Overloaded Trucks
Commercial trucks are already harder to handle than regular passenger vehicles. They take longer to stop and have wider turning radiuses. When a truck weighs too much, it can be even harder to maneuver. Drivers of trucks with excessive weight loads have a greater chance of losing control of their vehicles. If they try to make a quick stop, their overloaded and unbalanced truck could jackknife or roll.
Overloaded trucks also put an unnecessary burden on the truck itself. Tires could explode, brakes could fail, and suspensions could not operate correctly if they have more stress than they are supposed to accommodate.
A skilled lawyer from our firm can investigate what happened. We can review the truck driver’s log and the records of the loading company and trucking company that employed the driver to determine who is potentially liable for any losses. The truck driver, trucking company, and loading company could be responsible if they supervised the loading of the excessive cargo and intentionally disregarded the state and federal weight regulations. Our diligent legal team could look into all potential avenues to maximize a possible financial recovery.
Talk to a Bloomfield Attorney After an Overloaded/Overweight Trucking Crash
Overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Bloomfield can result in severe or even life-threatening injuries. Trucking companies, cargo companies, and drivers have a duty to follow weight restrictions regarding their cargo. If they disregard those state and federal regulations, they should be legally accountable.
Talk to our team to learn more about pursuing a claim for the compensation you rightfully deserve. Fredson Statmore Bitterman, LLC will work hard to get the results you need.
