New Braunfels Truck Accidents Caused by Unsecured Truck Cargo
According to data compiled by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, more than 5,000 commercial trucks and buses are involved in accidents resulting in at least one death each year. Some of these accidents involve cargo that was not secured properly. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash related to unsecured or falling truck cargo, it is important to know how such cases are handled and what the law says about improperly secured loads.
Unsecured Loads Can Have Catastrophic Results
Improperly secured loads have presented problems for as long as trucks have carried cargo. However, a catastrophic case out of Washington State thrust the issue to the forefront of the public consciousness nearly a decade ago. In 2004, a young woman was driving on I-405 when a piece of improperly secured furniture fell off the back of a U-Haul truck and hit her windshield. The woman sustained head and eye injuries that resulted in permanent blindness. Since the wreck, the woman has undergone numerous reconstructive surgical procedures and years of physical rehabilitation.
Many other victims have suffered similar and sometimes more severe injuries, not to mention those who were killed as the result of pieces of cargo penetrating their windshield. Hitting cargo that has dropped to the roadway has caused thousands of injuries as well. These examples do not even include the wrecks caused by shifting cargo inside of trailers that lead to the loss of control by the drivers.
Truck Crash Claims Can Be Complex
Wrecks involving commercial trucks can be incredibly complicated. First of all, there are several parties who might share responsibility for the accident, including the truck driver, the transportation company, the company that services the truck, and the warehouse that loaded the trailer. Determining who was negligent is made even more difficult in cases where cargo fell from the truck without the driver realizing it. In such a case, the truck could be hundreds of feet down the road before the accident even occurs.
With this in mind, a truck wreck case typically requires an investigation to establish what caused the accident. There is also the risk of a reduced or denied claim, even if the cause of the crash seems to be clear. Transportation companies, their attorneys, and their insurance companies have a reputation for being rather uncooperative when it comes to accepting responsibility for an injury-causing crash. This makes it even more important to work closely with a skilled truck wreck attorney from the very beginning of your case.
Call a Comal County Truck Wreck Attorney
For more information about collecting compensation for injuries caused by unsecured truck cargo, contact a New Braunfels personal injury lawyer. Call 830-443-9193to schedule a free consultation with a member of the team at The Bettersworth Law Firm today. We will work hard to get you the full compensation you need to put your life back on track.
Source:
https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/marias-law-champion-takes-secured-load-fight-to-dc/
