Gillette Overloaded Truck Accident Lawyers

Campbell County Attorneys Hold Trucking Companies and Drivers Liable for Their Negligence

With trucking companies in a constant rush to maximize profits and get their goods to market, there are instances where federal safety regulations are blatantly ignored, and a semi-truck is dangerously overloaded with cargo. Weight regulations for commercial trucks are put in place in order to save lives by preventing accidents. When trucking companies ignore these rules, it is the height of irresponsibility and negligence.

If you or a loved one has been in an accident with an overloaded big rig in Campbell County, you need a veteran Gillette truck accident attorney in your corner. Steven Titus & Associates, P.C., has taken on negligent truck companies and held them responsible for the damage they’ve caused in the lives of our clients. Call us at (307) 257-7800 and see how we can get you and your loved one the justice you deserve.

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Why Do Overloaded Trailers Cause Accidents?

Many people get nervous when they drive next to or around semi-trucks on the highway, and for a valid reason. Being involved in an accident with a truck has the potential to cause catastrophic damage. Due to semi-trucks being so large, it is difficult for truck drivers to quickly correct their course, and nearly impossible to brake as quickly as the smaller vehicles around them. Adding an unsafe amount of weight to a heavy, difficult-to-handle vehicle can be a recipe for trouble.

Overloading trailers can cause accidents for the following reasons:

• An overloaded trailer can place undue strain on the truck’s axles and tires, increasing the chance of a break or blowout, leading to a dangerous loss of control.
• Trucks require a long distance to stop in a safe manner. Adding more weight increases the distance needed to brake safely, which can lead to a catastrophic crash.
• Trucks traveling downhill with an overloaded trailer are at extreme risk of brake failure. Standard truck brakes may not be strong enough to stop the overloaded vehicle as it is pulled forward by the force of gravity.
• If a trailer is overloaded or even improperly loaded, the cargo may shift during transit and cause a dangerous weight imbalance, which can lead to the truck rolling over or cause a jackknife accident.

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What Are Injuries Caused by Overloaded Truck Accidents?

Truck-related injuries can be horrific and life-altering. If the wreck doesn’t kill the victims, it often leaves them with severe injuries that can take years to recover from, if at all. Common truck accident injuries include:

• Back and Neck Injuries: Ranging from neck pain to dislocated discs in the spine, a person’s back and neck are imperative for almost every physical action they do. These injuries often prevent victims from returning to work and daily activities.
• Broken Bones: Truck crashes are incredibly powerful collisions due to the sheer weight and size of a semi-truck. It is common for victims of such accidents to suffer a higher rate of broken bones than victims of run-of-the-mill car accidents.
• Head/Traumatic Brain Injury: A blow to the head in an accident can result in a traumatic brain injury, also known as a TBI. TBIs can be a life-altering injury, affecting motor function and even personality traits. Brain injuries can occur even in the absence of direct trauma to the head, due to whiplash or rapid acceleration or deceleration. The true effects of brain injuries may not immediately be apparent on the onset. Symptoms that may develop include confusion, nausea, vision problems, and various cognitive difficulties.
• Internal Injuries: Powerful blunt trauma from collisions with semi-trucks can result in internal rupture of organs like the bladder, liver, kidney, pancreas, and spleen. These injuries are difficult to treat, and internal bleeding can be deadly.
• Lacerations: Lacerations from truck accidents can be excruciating, cause lifelong complications, permanently damage organs, and leave massive scars that may never heal.
• Wrongful Death: Accidents with semi-trucks have a much higher fatality rate than standard car accidents. When a truck accident kills your loved one, you need an experienced truck accident attorney to hold the liable parties responsible.

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Who Is Liable in an Overloaded Truck Accident?

It is not always clear who is at fault when an overloaded truck accident occurs. At first glance, it might seem like it is the truck driver’s responsibility, but truckers are rarely the sole party to blame. The following parties may be at fault in a Wyoming overloaded truck accident:

• Truck driver: The truck driver may be held liable for transporting goods in a way that is not in line with safety regulations.
• Trucking company: A trucking company that fails to inspect its equipment or is found to have been violating load restrictions on its trucks can be held legally responsible.
• Truck manufacturer: If a defect in the truck is found to have contributed to an overloaded truck accident, then the truck’s manufacturer may be held liable.
• Secondary employees: If another party is responsible for loading the truck or completing safety checks, then they can be held legally responsible for the crash and resultant injuries.

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Contact a Gillette Overloaded Truck Accident Attorney

If you’re involved in a wreck with a commercial truck in Campbell County, contact Steven Titus & Associates, P.C., and get our top-notch legal team in your corner. Call (307) 257-7800 to schedule a free consultation and discuss how we can fight to hold the right people responsible for their negligent actions.

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