Overloading Trucks

Overloaded trucks are harder to control and take more distance to stop

Americans share interstate highways with large trucks carrying automobiles, livestock, timber, oil and other consumer goods.  How these tractor-trailers are loaded and the amount of their load plays a major role in the security of our roads.  Freight can shift and/or weigh down a truck, making the truck difficult to control.

Weight is specifically critical because heavily laden vehicles have the tendency to slow down traffic and cause accidents—the heavier the truck, the greater the impact of a collision and the more serious the accident.  When trucks are overloaded, the ratio of the braking load is reduced in proportion to the amount of the overload, resulting in a lower deceleration rate, and an increase in the distance required to stop, which has a tendency to cause collisions with other vehicles.

Overloaded trucks are against the law

Federal and state regulations set the maximum weight of a truck that includes the weight of the tractor, the trailer, and the freight that it is carrying.  Trucks are required to stop and are monitored at weigh stations, highway checkpoints where weight is inspected.  If overloaded, the truck is required to pull over for additional inspection.

Regulation is critical because overloading and improperly loaded trucks can contribute to fatal accidents. In the October 2009 report of large truck crash facts of 2008, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration reported 4,017 fatal large truck accidents, of which 21 crashes had resulted from overloading, improperly loading and carrying hazardous cargo improperly.

At the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., we work to aid victims of tractor-trailer accidents.  It is critical for a person injured in a truck accident to contact an attorney as soon as possible after the accident in an effort to retain the information necessary for a lawsuit.  This information includes the freight of the truck.  Often trucking companies are in a rush to transport the freight.  If you are in an accident, retention of the tractor (the power unit), trailer and freight are necessary to ensure your claim.  At the Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd., we work swiftly to retain and gather the information by having the tractor, trailer and freight inspected for overloading issues. 

Free and confidential consultations—no fee unless we get results

We work on a contingency basis.  This means that you are only asked to pay if we are successful in achieving a positive outcome for you.  Call 312-445-9101 or toll free at 888-489-5581 or contact us online today to discuss your case with an experienced attorney.  From our law offices in Chicago, the personal injury attorneys of Dinizulu Law Group, Ltd. help people across Chicagoland, greater Illinois and the United States.