Overloaded/Overweight Truck Accidents in Los Angeles

Large commercial vehicles are a common sight throughout Los Angeles, transporting cargo in and out. As important as they are for the economy, they represent a serious hazard for others on the road. This is especially true when trucks are overweight or improperly loaded.

If you have been hurt in an overloaded/overweight truck accident in Los Angeles, you may be entitled to compensation. Recovering damages on your own is never easy, which makes it important to speak with our skilled truck collision attorneys right away.

What Makes Overloaded Trucks Dangerous?

Federal law applies limits to how much a truck can weigh when it operates on public roadways. There are also regulations regarding how a trailer is packed to ensure they are not top-heavy or otherwise overloaded. This is because hauling overloaded or overweight cargo in Los Angeles increases the chance of a truck crash.

When a truck is too heavy, it takes much longer to come to a complete stop. These vehicles already need a long runway from the point of hitting the brakes to stop entirely, and that only gets longer when they are heavy. This increases the odds of rear-end collisions.

When trucks are overloaded, there might not be enough room in the trailer for all the goods. This can lead to spills or debris falling from the trailer into the roadway. Drivers attempting to avoid these objects could lose control and crash.

Heavy vehicles also put a greater strain on their parts. From axles to braking systems, truck parts that carry more weight than they are designed for are more likely to fail. This further increases the chances of a crash.

Increased Risks of Injury

Not only are overloaded trucks more likely to be in an accident, but the injuries that result from these incidents can be more serious as well. Heavier trucks collide with other vehicles with more force, which can dramatically increase the severity of the impact on another car.

Being struck by a commercial vehicle is already a dangerous proposition. When it comes to overweight truck collisions in Los Angeles, severe or even fatal injuries are possible.

Who is at Fault for an Overweight Truck Crash?

In order to recover damages following one of these accidents, an injured person needs to establish that another party acted negligently in overloading the truck. The most likely defendants in overweight crash cases are the truck driver or their employer, but other parties in Los Angeles could also be at fault.

Many trucking companies rely on third parties to load and unload their trailers. It is their job to ensure that trucks are at a safe weight and not top-heavy. When they fail to do so, they could be liable for the damages that occur in a crash.

There might be multiple defendants in some cases. If a defective vehicle part played a role in the crash, the manufacturer could be liable even if overloading also was to blame.

Talk to Our Los Angeles Attorneys About Overloaded or Overweight Truck Accidents

You have the right to pursue an injury lawsuit after being hurt in an overloaded/overweight truck accident in Los Angeles. You also are entitled to hire legal counsel to act as your advocate. Before you try to settle your case on your own, reach out to our dedicated attorneys for a private consultation today.