Most drivers have experienced the stress of being behind an overfilled tractor-trailer or a flatbed with yellow harnesses strapping down cargo. An overloaded truck can leave motorists terrified that the vehicle might roll over, causing the shipment to fall onto the road. For these reasons, there are strict limits on how much cargo a truck can carry and procedures for how this cargo should be secured. Unfortunately, overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Clarkesville continue to cause preventable harm.
When you or a loved one have been involved in an accident with an overloaded truck, call an attorney at Smith Hulsey Law to determine whether you may have grounds to recover compensation.
According to Georgia Code § 32-6-26, vehicles driving on the state’s public highways must conform to specific regulations for dimensions, weight limits, and pneumatic tire pressure.
Mid-sized trucks should cap their cargo load at 8,000 pounds, with an official limit of up to 13 percent over 8,000 pounds. Large semi-trucks are suggested to carry no more than 16,000 pounds, with a cap at no more than 13 percent over this amount. Trucks with four axles cannot weigh more than 70,000 pounds, including cargo. No vehicle on state highways—including commercial vehicles—can weigh more than 80,000 pounds.
To enforce these requirements for commercial trucks, the Georgia State Department of Transportation works in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Transportation (US DOT). The US DOT provides the bridge guideline formula for calculating the weight of vehicles. On all federal highways, the total weight limit for any vehicle is 80,000 pounds and no more than 20,000 pounds per axle (23 CFR § 658.17).
A knowledgeable Clarkesville attorney could spot the illegalities at play in an overloaded truck crash and file a cost-effective case on behalf of injured parties.
Accidents involving overloaded tractor-trailers can cause severe and sometimes life-threatening injuries to motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Many of these crashes also result in substantial property damage. Common injuries resulting from collisions with overweight trucks include:
An attorney in Clarkesville could investigate the circumstances surrounding a truck accident to determine whether an overloaded or overweight vehicle is to blame.
The most common reason behind accidents involving overweight semis is when trucking companies try to save on overhead costs and wages by requiring drivers to travel with over-capacity loads. Truck drivers can add to the dangers of driving an overloaded vehicle by making unsafe decisions behind the wheel.
Examples of circumstances that may contribute to these types of accidents include:
A Clarkesville lawyer could determine the reason for the overweight or overloaded truck accident and hold the negligent parties accountable.
After any type of accident involving a commercial vehicle, the best course of action is to seek legal advice. These cases often require detailed accident reconstructions and witness testimony to determine who is at fault.
An attorney well versed in overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Clarkesville could build a legal strategy to prove a trucker, company, or third-party defendant should be responsible for providing compensation. Speak with the team at Smith Hulsey Law by calling now.
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