- Results
- Our Team
- About The Firm
- Practice Areas
- In The News
- Philanthropy
- Contact
- Results
- Our Team
- About The Firm
- Practice Areas
- In The News
- Philanthropy
- Contact
Trucks carrying too much cargo and material can pose a risk to the driver and others on the road. Overweight semis are more challenging to handle, especially when maneuvering turns.
In addition, truckers are at a significant risk of crashing which has devastating consequences for everyone involved. Call a qualified truck crash attorney who understands cases resulting from overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Philadelphia to learn more.
Weighed-down semi-trucks pose substantial risks to road safety and infrastructure. Tractor-trailers are already challenging, but maneuvering is more complicated when improperly loaded or encumbered. The additional weight may also lead to dangerous mechanical issues, such as brake failure and tire blowouts.
When trucks exceed the maximum allowable weight limit, the truckers, other drivers, and pedestrians around them are at a much higher risk of bodily harm or death. Similarly, the excessive strain on the vehicle’s mechanical components, such as brakes and the suspension system, can create a malfunction that contributes to a wreck.
Overweight trucks are more likely to damage highways and accelerate wear and tear due to the excess weight creating roadway pressure. They can contribute to cracks, large potholes, and structural failures, such as bridge or overpass damage. A dedicated attorney could investigate a case involving an encumbered load.
Some of the common reasons accidents involving overloaded tractor-trailers occur include:
Advanced technology plays a substantial role in ensuring safety in the trucking industry. For example, sensors allow the industry to easily monitor and track the weight of vehicles at all times. A Philadelphia overloaded 18-wheeler crash attorney could investigate the incident and determine which party could be held financially liable.
Federal and state government agencies closely regulate the trucking industry, playing an essential role in preventing accidents. Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes Annotated Title 75 § 4941 enforces the maximum allowable weight for commercial semis in the state. These weight limitations vary depending on the type of vehicle, cargo, and the number of axles.
Violation of this statute can have severe consequences for the operator, trucking company, and cargo transporting company. Penalties may include steep fines, loss of commercial driver’s license, and, in worse cases, criminal charges. During a consultation, a Philadelphia lawyer could review the applicable statutes to prepare a lawsuit over an overloaded and overweight tractor-trailer wreck.
When the trucking industry fails to adhere to federal and state regulations on maximum weight limits, it puts its drivers and everyone on the road at severe risk. One often-seen outcome is rollover crashes, which are among the most deadly wrecks nationwide.
When you were in a collision with an encumbered tractor-trailer, you have every right to seek compensation from the liable parties. Call a diligent lawyer about your overloaded/overweight truck accident in Philadelphia and review your case options today.