Overloaded trucks are dangerous

By |2022-01-03T17:59:02+00:00March 29th, 2018|

Trucks that travel throughout California are subject to legal weight limits on how much they can haul at one time. It is up to truck drivers and their companies to know what these limits are and to make sure that their loads fall under them. But, they can receive special permission to transport heavier items.

Some truckers may be tempted to try and get around these rules, or ignore them outright. In the interest of being able to turn a higher profit, they must resist this temptation. Not only is violating weight limits illegal, it also raises important safety concerns.

An overloaded truck can be an accident waiting to happen for many reasons. For one, the heavier the truck, the longer it takes to stop. A driver of an overloaded truck, even if he or she is able to hit the brakes immediately, the driver may not be able to avoid a rear-end accident because of the excessive truck weight.

Moreover, overweight truckers are more prone to jackknifing or rolling over on their sides in the event of a sudden stop or swerve. Even if the weight itself does not cause a driver to lose control, too much weight also puts extra pressure on the truck’s tires, increasing the likelihood of a dangerous tire blowout.

Truck drivers and their companies must follow the weight limit rules, and make sure that their cargo is correctly and safely loaded. If they do not do so, then they may cause a serious truck accident. A victim of this type of accident may be eligible to receive compensation from both the truck driver and the trucking company.

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About the Author:

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Doug Easton has practiced law since 1971. After 20 years of practicing with various large litigation firms, he founded the Law Offices of W. Douglas Easton in 1991 as a solo practitioner. In the years that followed, Doug’s sons Brian and Matt joined him in the practice and helped build the firm into a powerful force to help right the wrongs done to their clients. Much of their success over the years has stemmed from the dynamic created by the familial nature of the firm and how harmoniously they all work together, each of their individual strengths complementing and fortifying the group as a whole. Accordingly, the firm changed its name to Easton & Easton, LLP in 2014 to better reflect the true dynamic of the firm and Doug now serves as Managing Partner of Easton & Easton. In 2015, Doug was selected as a Top 100 Litigation Lawyer in California by The American Society of Legal Advocates. In addition, Doug is listed in Strathmore’s Who’s Who, and in 2008 was named its “Professional of the Year” in Medical Malpractice.
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