Hazards of unsecured 18 wheeler cargo
THE UNITED STATES – According to an online news report from News5Cleveland.com, there are 1,000s of accidents caused by unsecured cargo on 18-wheeler trucks in Ohio over the past few years. This means hundreds of thousands of accidents occur each year in the United States due to loads falling off of trucks. The news report states that in Ohio, there were over 700 injuries and six deaths over the past few years due to unsecured cargo on motor vehicles.
There are many different times when unsecured or poorly restrained cargo causes harm. Cargo on a commercial vehicle may spill onto the road as the result of an accident like this one, or it may come loose while the commercial truck is speeding along the road, leading to high velocity projectiles impacting other vehicles. This scenario may lead to penetration into the passenger compartment of the vehicle, leading to severe injuries. In addition, other vehicles on the road with the commercial truck might collide with the debris, leading to a serious crash. Some drivers may try to take evasive actions to avoid the spilling cargo, resulting in collisions with other vehicles.
Many situations where the cargo gets loose from a tractor-trailer happen when the driver and trucking company negligently failed to secure the cargo in the proper manner. Some instances of negligence include:
- Failing to properly tie down cargo – The weight of many types of cargo being transported requires additional stabilization inside the trailer in order to prevent it from shifting inside the truck, which could lead to jackknifing or overturning of the truck or spilling out of the trailer.
- Failing to secure a necessary tarp – Many times, an open bedded trailer will be used to transport cargo such as loose sand, gravel, rocks, construction debris, and other materials. This type of load may throw off dangerous projectiles if it is not secured with a heavy tarp that is secured around the entire trailer.
- Failing to use the appropriate chains – When there are stacked loads in an open bed, it is critical to use additional restraints in order to prevent the load from falling off the trailer. Cargo where this might be an issue includes logs and timber, steel beams, and concrete forms.
There are many times when these dangerous situations could have been prevented if the truck driver or trucking company had taken the appropriate precautions. Tractor-trailer accidents often lead to serious injuries because of the size and weight of the commercial vehicle and the type of cargo being hauled.
Truck accident victims need the experienced and skilled truck accident attorneys. If you or a loved one were harmed in a trucking accident, it is essential that you contact one of our trucking accident lawsuit attorneys right away. Call Parker Waichman LLP at 1-800-YOURLAWYER (1-800-968-7529) for your free case review.
