Overloaded/Overweight Truck Accidents in Denham Springs

Trucking freight companies may try to maximize their profits by overloading semi-tractor trailers with excessive cargo weight. While this practice often results in the delivery of more freight in a single trip, it substantially increases the risk of truck accidents and severe injuries.

Our experienced truck accident lawyers at Parker Layrisson Injury Attorneys have extensive knowledge of the technical aspects of how semi-trucks should be loaded. Using that knowledge, we help individuals establish liability for damages following overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Denham Springs. Contact us today to schedule a consultation with our team.

Truck Accidents Caused by Overloading or Overweighting

U.S. highway laws and many state laws limit a commercial truck’s total weight to 80,000 pounds. This limit is based on safety and helps reduce wear on roadways. Nonetheless, many modern trucks are capable of handling heavier loads, even if they negatively affect the driver’s ability to control the vehicle. For example:

• An overburdened truck requires more distance to stop, increasing the collision risk with vehicles ahead
• A heavier truck is more difficult to steer, particularly through tight turns and on winding roads
• Extra weight places more stress on mechanical components such as brakes, tires, and couplings, increasing the likelihood of mechanical failure
• If a truck is loaded such that its center of gravity is high, the truck is more likely to flip over when turning
• Larger cargo loads may be prone to shifting, disrupting the driver’s sense of control

If you have been injured, one of our Denham Springs attorneys could evaluate whether the involved truck trailer had too much cargo or weighed too much, causing your wreck.

How Do You Know if a Truck Was Overloaded or Overweight?

Freight operators owe a duty to other motorists to load trailers safely and within allowable weight limits. Failure to do so constitutes evidence of negligence that may form the foundation of a truck accident lawsuit.

Our Denham Springs truck accident attorneys could use all available evidence to demonstrate that a freight company loaded a truck to exceed its weight capacity. Such evidence might include:

• Loading records from the freight company
• Spilled cargo at an accident scene
• Bulging or blown trailer tires
• Brake pad wear
• Sagging trailer floors
• Stress fractures on the truck or trailer frame
• Weight records from highway weigh stations

We may also work with accident reconstruction experts to analyze the evidence and propose a viable argument that the truck was unsafe.

A Truck Accident Lawyer Is Your Best Resource

Freight companies and their insurers in and around Denham Springs have teams of defense lawyers who go to extremes to minimize the compensation they pay to those injured in an overburdened semi-truck wreck. Working with a seasoned truck crash attorney could ensure you have a stronger chance of recovering maximum damages.

Our lawyers have an in-depth understanding of federal and state laws, as well as the trucking industry. We could conduct a thorough investigation to establish negligence and manage all communications with insurers, preventing them from taking advantage of you with a low settlement offer.

Contact a Denham Springs Attorney Today About Crashes Caused By Overcapacity Trailers

At Parker Layrisson Injury Attorneys, we help people like you who have been hurt in overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Denham Springs. We offer free case reviews and estimates of the damages you may recover in a truck accident lawsuit. Our team has recovered over $80 million for injured motorists and could devote our full energy and experience to securing the compensation you deserve for your truck accident injuries and losses. Contact us today to schedule a consultation.