Several causes contribute to truck collisions in Florida, including several involving negligence. Intoxicated or tired truck drivers may impact other vehicles, and moving violations might lead to rear-end, head-on or other crashes. However, improper cargo loading could harm the driver’s ability to operate a truck safely.
Problematic cargo loading
There are different ways a truck may suffer from improper cargo loading. Overloading the truck with more weight than it can present a dangerous situation on the road. A truck’s manufacturer specifies the maximum weight the vehicle can carry. Exceeding that weight could be negligent, as the truck could have difficulties going up or down hills when overloaded. Making routine turns might become dangerous, and the added weight could lead to tire blowouts.
A commercial truck requires more distance than a traditional vehicle to come to a complete stop. That is certainly the case even if not carrying excess weight. An overloaded truck could experience additional trouble when braking, increasing accident risks.
Balancing cargo
Those loading the truck must properly balance the cargo inside the trailer. If there’s too much weight on one side of the truck than the other, the trailer might sway. The driver could have difficulty maintaining control over a swaying vehicle, making it harder to prevent an accident. The trailer might also sway on a turn, causing a jackknife accident.
Problems with improperly loaded cargo may cause various other issues, such as undermining traction and creating steering problems. Added or uneven weight might wear down parts, further contributing to hazards that cause truck accidents.
The parties responsible for accidents resulting from improper cargo loading may face a civil lawsuit. These parties could include the driver, the driver’s employer and crew members who performed the loading. In some cases, an insurance settlement may provide compensation to accident victims.
