Miami Overloaded Truck Accident Lawyer
Semi-trucks and similar commercial vehicles are how most cargo is transported in and around the Miami-Dade area. When fully loaded with cargo, a commercial truck can weigh upwards of 80,000 pounds of cargo. But when a truck is overloaded, it becomes a serious safety risk, not just to the truck driver but everyone else who happens to be sharing the road.
The Miami overloaded truck accident lawyers at Pike & Lustig, LLP, represent individuals who have been harmed due to an improperly loaded tractor-trailer. We understand the dangers of an overloaded truck. And our team will make every effort to demonstrate how such reckless behavior should not go unpunished.
What Are the Risks of an Overloaded Truck?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) impose strict weights on the limits of commercial vehicles used to transport property. For most tractor-trailers that means a maximum gross weight of 80,000 pounds, although there may be lower maximums applicable to specific types of trucks. That weight must also be properly distributed based on the number of axles in the vehicle. For example, a single axle cannot tolerate more than 22,000 pounds under Florida regulations.
If a truck is overloaded beyond its maximum allowed weight, or the weight is imbalanced between the axles, an accident is more likely to occur for several reasons, including:
- An overloaded truck has an increased stopping distance, which increases the risk of the driver causing a rear-end accident with the vehicle in front of them.
- An overloaded truck puts additional weight on the brakes and tires, increasing the chance of either failing.
- An overloaded and imbalanced truck can see sudden shifts in the vehicle’s center of gravity, which can cause the driver to lose control and possibly cause a rollover accident.
- An overloaded truck may spill some of its excess cargo, launching it into the street like a projectile weapon.
When investigating a commercial truck accident, one of the first things our team will look at is whether the truck was overloaded and whether its cargo was properly loaded in accordance with FMCSA and FDOT regulations. If the truck was overloaded, a number of parties may be legally responsible for the injuries sustained by accident victims, including the truck’s driver and owner, as well as any companies responsible for loading and securing the tractor-trailer’s cargo.
Our Miami Overloaded Truck Accident Lawyers Can Support You Today
If someone is killed or suffers what the law considers a “serious injury” in a motor vehicle accident, that victim or their estate can step outside of Florida’s normal no-fault insurance rules and file a personal injury lawsuit against the parties responsible for causing the crash in the first place. Damages in such claims can include all of the victims medical bills and lost income as well as their pain and suffering or other non-economic damages.
The Miami overloaded truck accident lawyers at Pike & Lustig, LLP, can advise you further in this area. Contact us today at 561-291-8298 to schedule a consultation.
