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Overloaded Cargo Truck Accidents
An accident with a commercial vehicle like a large truck is terrifying for anyone. For those who are injured in a truck collision, the ordeal drags on and can affect their entire lives. Massachusetts Truck Accident Victim Attorney Tracy Paulsen helps people who have been injured in crashes caused by overloaded cargo on semi trucks and eighteen wheelers.
Any crash with a truck is dangerous, and a crash with a heavy, overloaded truck can be even more devastating. If you have been injured or lost a family member in an accident with an overloaded truck, Attorney Tracy Paulsen and her Massachusetts personal injury law firm Rightful Legal are here to help. Attorney Paulsen has over 15 years of experience in fighting for justice and maximum possible compensation for victims of truck crashes. She has a deep knowledge of Massachusetts insurers, courts, and motor vehicle accident law, and she and her team have a strong record of successfully standing up to big companies on behalf of injured clients. Rightful Legal accepts clients from Plymouth County, Bristol County, Norfolk County, Boston, and all areas of Massachusetts.
Curious what Attorney Paulsen can do for you? Rightful Legal offers a free, no-obligation case evaluation. Reach out to us now so we can hear your overloaded truck accident story and explain your options for moving forward.
Injured by a Truck with Overloaded Cargo?
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How Does Overloaded Cargo Cause Truck Accidents?
Every truck is approved to carry a certain amount of weight safely. Even large semis and tractor trailers cannot carry more than their assigned weight rating. For a variety of reasons, including employee inexperience, production pressure, or improperly maintained equipment, a truck may nevertheless be loaded with more cargo than it is allowed to carry.
When a truck is overloaded with cargo, it becomes much more difficult to control, leading to a higher risk of jackknife accidents and other collisions. Tire blowouts and other equipment failures also become more likely as the weight of the vehicle is dangerously increased. Stopping distance is increased, making any speeding by the truck driver even more dangerous than when the truck is carrying a proper load.
Essentially, when a trucking company or trucker overloads a large vehicle, it becomes much more prone to accidents, whether through loss of control or equipment failure. Cargo overloading is a dangerous, negligent practice that endangers others on the road with trucks.
Is Overloading the Only Dangerous Cargo Mistake?
No, there are many ways that truck cargo can cause accidents. Overloading is a common preventable cargo error. Others include:
- Not properly securing cargo. Trucking companies and truck drivers, like everyone on the road, have a responsibility to ensure that nothing flies off or out of their vehicles and causes a hazard to others. Unfortunately, due to rushed timelines, improper training, bad equipment maintenance, or other mistakes, trucks may travel with cargo that is not secured. Truck doors can open, debris can fly off of flatbeds, and items can shift dangerously and unbalance the vehicle. All of these can cause accidents and danger to other drivers and their passengers.
- Unbalanced loads. Semi trucks themselves are massive, weighing twenty to thirty times what a normal passenger vehicle weighs. Their cargo adds significant mass, and where this mass is added matters. Each vehicle has a safe way that it should be properly loaded, based on factors like the vehicle shape and size, the amount and weight of cargo, and the size of the cargo pieces. Failure to load a vehicle properly can make even a small load dangerous and cause the driver to lose control, leading to jackknives and other accidents.
Who is Responsible for Loading Truck Cargo Safely?
Whoever loads the truck is responsible for doing so safely, and truckers and transportation companies have a responsibility to ensure that the cargo they transport is properly loaded.
Truckers and trucking companies are also responsible for the safe maintenance of semi trucks. They are legally required to perform certain inspections and maintenance checks before hauling any cargo.
Only truck loaders and operators can truly prevent truck crashes caused by overloaded or improperly loaded cargo. While other drivers can drive safely themselves and follow best practices like avoiding truck blind spots, they cannot prevent a truck from losing control due to problems caused by poorly loaded or overloaded cargo.
Hurt in an Overloaded Cargo Accident?
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Do I Need to Seek Medical Care After An Accident With an Overloaded Truck if I Feel Fine?
Yes, you should be medically evaluated as soon as possible after an overloaded cargo truck crash. Your health and safety are the primary concern, and many common motor vehicle accident injuries, like whiplash and soft tissue injuries, may not be immediately obvious. You could have an injury like internal bleeding or a traumatic brain injury (TBI), which often require specialized imaging or diagnostic testing for early detection and appropriate treatment. Some injuries, like any burns to the hands or face, require medical evaluation and treatment even if they appear minor. A medical professional can also evaluate if you require prophylactics like antibiotics or a tetanus vaccination.
The secondary concern with not seeking immediate treatment is that trucking companies and insurers may use the delay to cast doubt on your injuries and how severe they are. If you delay medical care, they may claim that you are lying about what caused your injuries or that your injuries must not be that serious, even if they have gotten worse over time.
The best way to protect your health and your right to compensation is to get medical attention as soon as possible after an overloaded cargo truck crash.
Is It OK to Make a Statement About Your Overloaded Cargo Truck Accident to an Insurance Company Before Consulting a Lawyer?
You should not make a statement about the collision to any insurance company, including your own, before consulting with a Massachusetts motor vehicle accident attorney. While you must promptly report the accident to your automobile insurer, you should not make detailed or formal statements to any insurer or the trucking company until you have spoken to a personal injury lawyer about your legal rights.
Be aware, trucking companies may contact you very soon after an overloaded cargo accident and pressure you to make a statement. You do not have to comply. You should not delay contacting legal counsel to help ensure that all facts given to investigators are accurate and your rights to fair compensation are protected.
How Soon Do You Need to Make an Overloaded Cargo Crash Injury Claim?
For truck accidents in Massachusetts, there is a three-year deadline to bring personal injury claims. The three-year clock begins on the date you knew or should have known about your injuries, usually the date of the collision. If you miss this window of opportunity, you permanently lose the legal right to seek compensation for your truck accident injuries.
You should ask for help from an experienced Massachusetts personal injury attorney right away. A truck accident lawyer can help you understand your rights, calculate the deadline to bring your claim, and fight for you against the trucker and trucking company who injured you.
Why Pick Rightful Legal for Your Massachusetts Overloaded Truck Accident Case?
A collision with an overloaded commercial vehicle can turn your ordinary day into a life-altering emergency. If you were injured in a collision caused by overloaded cargo, you may have the right to pursue compensation for losses like your medical bills, lost income, vehicle repairs, and certain other ways the crash has affected your life. If a cargo-related truck accident resulted in the tragic loss of your loved one, you may be able to bring a wrongful death claim to seek accountability and justice.
Attorney Tracy Paulsen of Rightful Legal has served many injured clients just like you, and she understands exactly how destructive overloaded cargo truck accidents can be. She brings compassion for you, a passion for justice, and a wealth of motor vehicle accident experience to every case. Unlike large, corporate personal injury firms, Attorney Paulsen and her local Attleboro team provide personalized, hands-on representation, ensuring that every client receives the focused attention and support they deserve. For our clients, Rightful Legal handles all communications with insurers, investigates your truck crash, and helps secure critical evidence from the transportation company before it is deleted or disappears. We want to take care of obtaining the maximum possible compensation for you, so you can focus on healing from your injuries and rebuilding your life.
Attorney Paulsen and Rightful Legal proudly represent victims of overloaded cargo accidents across Massachusetts, including residents of Norfolk, Bristol, and Plymouth Counties; the Greater Boston area; and throughout the Bay State. Our team conducts thorough accident investigations, working with reliable accident reconstructionists when appropriate; gathers and analyzes key evidence; and stands up to major trucking companies and insurers who often work to minimize payouts to the people they have carelessly injured. When necessary, Attorney Paulsen is fully prepared to bring a case to trial to pursue the maximum compensation available under the law.
Rightful Legal only gets paid if we win your case. You owe no attorney’s fees unless we secure a recovery for you. Contact Attorney Paulsen today for a free, confidential consultation where you can share your story, learn your legal options, and discover how our truck accident injury attorneys can help you move forward after a crash caused by overloaded truck cargo.
Call or Text Rightful Legal Immediately at 617-821-5856. You can also contact our passionate Massachusetts Overloaded Cargo Truck Accident Victim Lawyers Online Now.
