Local, state, and federal regulations regarding the use of tractor-trailers exist to help prevent serious accidents and damage to people and property. Some of these regulations relate to the weight limits of a truck for its intended use or purpose. Evidence that a vehicle violated the weight limit or other overloaded or overweight restrictions may serve as a basis for negligence in a truck accident claim.
Interstate 81 and Interstate 64 run through and around Augusta County and are notorious for serious tractor-trailer accidents. A tractor-trailer wreck attorney experienced in overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Augusta County could help you fight for the compensation you deserve if you sustained injuries in a tractor-trailer wreck. Schedule a consultation with The Warren Firm today.
Overloaded and overweight semis pose a significant risk to other drivers and nearby pedestrians for many reasons. For instance, a truck carrying excess weight may require more time to slow down or come to a complete stop. However, a trucker may not be accustomed to the increase in time needed to stop the vehicle properly, which could lead to a crash. Overloaded or overweight trucks may also pose dangers when traveling on roads under construction or with sharp turns.
A tractor-trailer may cause an accident if it has cargo that is in excess of the applicable standards or if the cargo is improperly loaded on the truck. A truck may meet the appropriate standard of gross vehicle weight, but the cargo loaded within the truck may not have been safely and adequately balanced.
Additionally, tractor-trailers loaded with hazardous materials could cause even more severe accidents if the materials were not correctly loaded or were overloaded on the vehicle. A local lawyer could help investigate your accident’s circumstances to determine whether the cargo played a role in the accident.
The truck driver is often the first party one would accuse of being liable for an overloaded or overweight truck wreck. In many cases, this might be appropriate, but several other parties may also be involved. For example, the companies that employ the truck driver and own the vehicle may be partly responsible for an accident.
The company responsible for loading and weighing the cargo may also be found negligent for their actions. However, proving that a company should be held accountable for an action is often an onerous burden, especially if the company is not the truck driver’s employer.
For example, the truck driver or companies involved in the accident may try to obscure evidence to avoid blame. As such, it is essential to seek the assistance of adequate legal counsel to help secure the necessary evidence for a claim.
A proper investigation is crucial following an overloaded or overweight truck accident in Augusta County. In some cases, a state or local entity may aid in an investigation. However, the aid is not generally there to help prove your case for compensation.
Therefore, an attorney experienced in these claims and the state regulations could help properly evaluate a case to help determine your legal options. Schedule a consultation with The Warren Firm for your truck wreck injury today.
