What Are the Dangers of an Overloaded Truck in St. Louis?
What Are the Dangers of an Overloaded Truck in St. Louis?
According to recent reports published in the National Library of Medicine, overloaded trucks are among the leading causes of truck accidents on U.S. roads. Despite all the laws and regulations, most notably from the United States Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, that have been put in place to curb truck overloading, some trucking companies and truck drivers ignore them to increase their profit margins.
Overloading or improperly loading trucks throws off a truck's center of gravity, making them more prone to rollover accidents. Federal law sets an 80,000 gross weight limit for all vehicles operating on the interstate system. If you or a loved one sustained an injury because a Missouri or Illinois shipping company, truck company or truck driver overloaded their truck, Burger Law's St. Louis truck accident injury lawyers will hold them accountable.
Overweight trucks are some of the most dangerous vehicles on the public roads. Even if the truck driver obeys all traffic signs and speed limits, such a vehicle still poses a severe threat to road safety. Overweight trucks can:
- Increase the chances of a jackknife accident
- Increase the chances of a collapsed trailer
- Make it extremely difficult to slow down while driving downhill
- Make the driver unable to maintain speed while driving uphill
- Can increase the possibility of losing control of the truck after a quick turn
If you or a loved one have recently been involved in an accident due to an overloaded or overweight truck, we encourage you to reach out to Burger Law so that we can begin working on your case right away. Call us at (314) 500-HURT or complete our online contact form as soon as possible.
What Are Some Causes of Other Types of St. Louis Trucking Accidents?
What Are Some Causes of Other Types of St. Louis Trucking Accidents?
Below is more information on what causes truck crashes and who may be liable.
Driver Error in St. Louis Trucking Accidents
Driver Error in St. Louis Trucking Accidents
In its landmark large truck crash causation study, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration found that "driver reasons" accounted for the main cause in 87 percent of trucking accidents nationwide. Some instances of driver error in trucking accidents are:
- Distracted driving, such as:
- Texting and driving
- Looking at directions
- Eating or drinking
- Smoking or chewing tobacco
- Being preoccupied or daydreaming
- Looking at something on the side of the road
- Speeding or driving too fast for weather conditions
- Drunk driving or drug impaired driving
- Not accounting for road conditions
- Overcompensating for road conditions
- Making illegal maneuvers
Some other common causes of trucking accidents:
- Poor maintenance. A large truck crash study by the Federal Motor Carrier Administration, negligent maintenance is a contributing factor in 40 percent of trucking accidents. Examples can include failed brakes, electrical problems, burst tires and more. Brake problems were an associated factor in 27 percent of trucks in trucking accidents, contrasted with just 2 percent in cars. Missouri, St. Louis and Federal Law requires pre-trip and yearly inspections carried out by the driver and trucking company or third party, respectively.
- Driver Fatigue. Thirteen percent of trucking accidents involved driver fatigue as an associated factor. The same study found that pressure from management was a leading reason for drivers to try and drive more hours than they were able.
- Another driver. In accidents between trucks and passenger cars, trucks were the cause of a trucking accident only 44 percent of the time. The other crashes were caused by a passenger car. If you are in a multi-car accident, you may be able to file a claim against the driver of a St. Louis, Missouri or Illinois passenger car as you normally would after a car accident.
Distracted driving is a leading contributor to St. Louis and Missouri trucking accidents as 71 percent of truck crashes happened when the driver was doing something besides driving the truck. The FMCSA banned texting and driving for drivers of commercial vehicles, but unfortunately, as with drivers of St. Louis, Missouri and Illinois passenger cars, sometimes truck drivers break the rules. When they do and they injure you as a result, the St. Louis-based Missouri and Illinois overloaded truck accident lawyers of Burger Law will stand by your side and insist that you are fully compensated for all of your damages.
Like any St. Louis, Missouri or Illinois car accident, each crash is unique and has its own set of circumstances. Trucking accidents can have a variety of contributing factors. They can frequently lead to multi-vehicle accidents in which more than one driver may be at fault. Burger Law's St. Louis overloaded truck accident attorney team will fully investigate every aspect of your case to determine every liable party and hold them accountable.