Semi-trucks can tow almost 50,000 pounds of cargo, which can become a serious hazard if it’s not properly secured. When cargo loaders cut corners, they put ordinary people at risk of being hurt in an unsecured freight accident. These collisions can cause devastating injuries, require expensive medical care, and result in considerable property damage. In some cases, truck accident victims are left with long-term, even life-long needs.
Have you been hurt because someone in the trucking industry didn’t take the necessary steps to keep their cargo from becoming a roadway danger? Don’t wait another moment to get the legal help you need to demand the full compensation you’re owed. Contact Parker Trial Law today for a free consultation with an unsecured load truck accident lawyer in Albany, and let’s chart your path forward together.
How Our Truck Accident Lawyers Can Help
Since 2016, Parker Trial Law has been dedicated to helping injury victims in Albany, GA, and throughout the nation. Our primary focus is representing people who have suffered serious injuries. We have considerable experience trying high-stakes truck accident cases at the highest levels, including a semi-truck accident lawsuit where we secured $1.46 million in compensation in federal court. When you come to us for help, you can trust that we will:
- Explain your rights and options during a free initial consultation
- Investigate the crash to determine how the load became unsecured and who was to blame for it
- Work with experts as necessary to understand the financial and personal costs of the collision and calculate what fair compensation entails
- Negotiate with the at-fault parties if an out-of-court settlement is the best way to get you paid fully and in a timely manner
- Fight your case out in court if maximum compensation requires a trial
- Never charge you a fee unless and until we win money on your behalf
- Treat you like family throughout the course of your case so that you know you’re in good hands
We pride ourselves on taking tough cases to trial and winning big for our clients, who call us “a trustworthy and knowledgeable group.” Find out what we can do for you when you contact us and speak with an unsecured truck load accident attorney with our firm.
Federal and State Regulations Regarding Load Securement
When cargo is not securely fastened, it can shift in transit. This increases the risk of jackknife accidents, rollovers, and spillages. That is why both state and federal authorities have established regulations for safely loading and stowing cargo.
Trucking companies operating in Georgia must follow state guidelines about cargo securement. If they operate across state lines, they are also subject to regulation by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Here’s what the Georgia Department of Driver Services (DDS) says about securing cargo:
- Cargo must not exceed relevant weight limits for the commercial vehicle.
- Blocking should be placed around the sides of cargo, while bracing goes between the top of the cargo and the container wall to prevent sliding.
- Tiedowns of appropriate strength must be used as necessary to secure cargo to flatbed trailers and within vans.
- Cargo needs at least one tiedown for every 10 feet of cargo.
- Cargo should be covered to prevent it from spilling onto the roadway.
The FMCSA has additional rules for interstate trucking that establish the following:
- Cargo must be firmly secured within or on vehicles via dunnage, dunnage bags, shoring bars, and tiedowns of adequate strength for the purpose.
- Any securement system’s aggregate working load limit should be at least half the weight of the load it’s securing.
- Chocks, wedges, or other devices must be used when needed to keep cargo from rolling.
- Multiple tiedowns may be required depending on the length and weight of the cargo.
If you suspect that regulatory violations caused the wreck that injured you, get in touch with a GA truck accident lawyer immediately. They can investigate the collision to potentially confirm your suspicions and determine whose failure led to the crash.
Who Is Responsible for an Improper Load Accident?
Many different parties can be liable for commercial truck unsecured loads accidents in Albany, including the following:
- The truck driver is responsible for inspecting the vehicle’s load and securement equipment before and during transit to ensure cargo stays safely secured. Failure to do so could make them liable.
- The trucking company must train drivers, maintain vehicles, and enforce safety standards for proper cargo securement. If it doesn’t, it may be liable for an unsecured load truck wreck.
- Cargo loaders are tasked with loading and securing cargo properly to prevent shifting or falling during transport. Mistakes in this process could make them responsible for a collision.
- Cargo owners may share liability if they provide hazardous, improperly packaged, or inadequately labeled materials.
- Maintenance crews could be responsible if they did not adequately inspect and repair equipment used to secure loads to ensure it is in proper working condition.
- Vehicle manufacturers could be liable if defective securement equipment or truck components contribute to unsecured cargo.
Given the complexity and overlapping duties involved in securing vehicle loads, a Georgia truck accident attorney should investigate the incident to determine the various parties that might be liable.
Financial Compensation You Can Recover After an Unsecured Load Accident
If you suffered injuries because of improperly loaded cargo, an Albany truck accident attorney can help you seek compensation for your:
- Past and future medical care
- Lost income and reduced earning potential
- Home or vehicle adaptations and mobility devices
- Pain and suffering
- Loss of quality of life
- Repair or replacement of damaged property
Contact Our Law Firm for Immediate Legal Help
Were you hurt in an unsecured load accident in Albany, GA? If so, you need the help of a truck accident attorney for wrecks caused by unsecured loads. Contact Parker Trial Law today for a free consultation about your truck accident claim, and let us start pursuing justice for you.
