Scranton Unsecured Cargo Truck Accident Lawyer
Truck accidents can happen in many ways. Unsecured cargo accidents are a big category that involves trucking-related debris on the road. Fallen truck cargo may include a variety of materials such as boxes, mattresses, furniture, lumber, sheet metal, and car parts.
Unsecured cargo can fall from trucks unexpectedly and land on surrounding vehicles. These heavy materials can cause serious accidents. In fact, unsecured cargo causes tens of thousands of accidents every year. Occupants in the affected vehicles may suffer catastrophic injuries or even fatalities.
Unsecured cargo accidents are serious situations. Get full and fair compensation from the experienced Scranton unsecured cargo truck accident lawyers from Needle Law Firm.
Guidelines for Securing Cargo
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has created a specific set of guidelines for securing cargo on large trucks. These guidelines describe how to secure cargo so that it does not shift on the trailer or fall off completely.
The FMCSA guidelines also include rules for how cargo securement devices are manufactured and how they should be implemented to secure cargo on trucks. Cargo securement devices may include:
- Chains
- Ropes
- Shackles
- Clamps
- Hooks
- Braces
- D-rings
It is important that cargo is secured properly. When cargo shifts, this changes the vehicle’s center of mass and increases the risk of a jackknife accident or rollover. In a jackknife accident, the truck skids and the trailer swings around to form a 90-degree angle. This can result in a rollover.
When a truck carries improperly secured cargo, a slight bump in the road can cause the cargo to loosen and fall off. Cargo that falls off of a truck can hit other vehicles and cause major accidents.
Failure to secure cargo can happen in various ways:
- Neglecting to use sufficient securement devices
- Using worn out or damaged devices
- Using securement devices incorrectly
- Improper loading or balancing of cargo
- Overloading cargo
Who Can Be Held Liable?
Multiple parties can be held liable for unsecured cargo. When injuries and fatalities occur, the following parties can be deemed at fault:
- Truck drivers
- Trucking companies
- Workers in warehouses or loading docks
- Transportation carriers
- Shipping companies
- Manufacturers of faulty securement devices
Typically, the truck drivers and trucking companies are most likely to be held liable. The trucking company may handle the actual loading of the truck and fail to properly secure the cargo, but the truck driver may neglect their duty to regularly inspect the cargo to ensure the securing devices are working properly.
Contact Needle Law Firm Today
Unsecured cargo is a serious issue. A truck may be hauling thousands of pounds of materials and should they fall off, they can cause serious and even fatal injuries to occupants of surrounding vehicles.
Have you been affected? Count on the Scranton unsecured cargo truck accident lawyers at Needle Law Firm to help you with your case. We can determine liability. Schedule a free consultation by calling (570) 344-1266 or filling out the online form.
