Large commercial trucks are massive in comparison to most of the other passenger vehicles on the roads and highways of Pennsylvania. When a truck collides with a smaller vehicle, the resulting injury and damage is often devastating and life-altering for accident victims. Many truck accident victims require extensive medical care and recovery time, while some are left with permanent disabilities and must rely on others for the rest of their lives. The attorneys at the law firm of Flaherty Fardo are dedicated to helping truck accident victims recover from the responsible party.

Risks of Overloaded Cargo

Many people may not realize how many complications overloading cargo on a large truck may cause. If a truck is overloaded, the following things may occur:

• The driver has difficulty limiting speed while driving downhill;
• The driver has difficulty maintaining a fast enough speed while driving uphill;
• The driver requires a longer stopping distance, of which he may be unaware;
• The driver may lose control of the truck after a quick turn of the wheel or over-correction;
• There is extra stress on the brakes and tires, causing potential tire blowouts, brake failures, or other mechanical malfunctions;
• The structural integrity of the truck is compromised, causing the trailer to collapse;
• Higher risk of the truck jackknifing;
• Higher risk of the trailer overturning on turns or at high speeds; and
• Shifting cargo can cause the trailer latch to open, causing cargo to spill onto the roadway and into the path of oncoming traffic.

Any of the above occurrences can cause severe damage to any vehicles or motorists in the truck or trailer’s wake.

FMCSA Cargo Regulations

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) is the agency tasked with regulating the commercial trucking industry. In order to try to prevent accidents and limit damage, the FMCSA has strict rules regarding limits on truck weight to try to prevent overloading. Some weight limits include the following:

• 20,000 pounds for a single axle truck;
• 34,000 pounds for a tandem axle truck; and
• 80,000 for larger trucks.

No truck or other vehicle can weigh over 80,000 on the highways, and there are checkpoints along the highways for trucks to regularly weigh in.

If a truck driver or company violates FMCSA cargo loading regulations, that party is acting in a negligent manner and putting you at risk. If you suffer injury as a result of their negligence, you deserve to recover by filing a truck accident lawsuit as soon as possible.

Contact a Pittsburgh Truck Accident Lawyer for Assistance

If you have been injured in a truck accident, identifying the exact cause or causes of the accident may be extremely difficult and complicated. The lawyers at Flaherty Fardo have extensive experience handling truck accident cases and know how to investigate the circumstances surrounding the accident in order to identify negligence. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation and can advise you on how you may best recover for your injuries and other losses. Contact our office today at (412) 802-6666 or use our online contact form on the right side of this page to schedule your free consultation today.