Improperly Loaded Trucks Cost Lives and Lawsuits

Setting off onto a long ride with a lot of cargo in the back of the truck is always a little scary. It's never easy to tell if things are going to fly off or slide out. What makes it even more important to properly load a truck, however, is the fact that if it hurts someone else, the truck driver will be held liable. 

Trucks can be tricky to load properly. If the cargo is not balanced, a truck can veer off the road or tip and roll, causing a huge auto accident. Trucks that are heavily loaded down are also very difficult to stop quickly. 

In fact, it takes 20 to 40 percent longer for a loaded tractor-trailer to stop than regular cars whether on a road in Salt Lake City or somewhere else. Being conscientious of these changes when hauling cargo is important to avoid causing an auto accident and needing a lawyer. 

In order to be preventative, there are a few ways to know if a truck is loaded incorrectly. If the cargo is not covered, that is an issue. If it is not roped down or covered with a tarp, things are more likely to go flying. 

Another bad sign is if the cargo is unbalanced. It needs to be distributed evenly in order to avoid things like rolling the truck across a Salt Lake City highway or causing an accident so bad that you need a lawyer. Balance the cargo—balance the truck. 

Some trucks also have a maximum weight for cargo. Find out what that weight is and then make sure to never exceed it. That makes stopping a lot harder than it should be. It makes causing an auto accident, however, a lot more likely. 

Finally, make sure that the cargo is tied down enough to keep it from shifting. It would be tragic to have things shift so much that they fall right off the bed of the truck and through someone else's windshield. That would definitely be cause enough to call a lawyer. 

The ultimate thing though that will prevent these types of accidents is to gain experience. However big the truck is, make sure you are comfortable driving it on rural roads before setting out on a busy Salt Lake City freeway. 

Experience in handling cargo and learning how to properly pack cargo can make driving a long haul much less intimidating. 

If you or a loved one has been hurt in an auto accident caused by an improperly loaded truck, contact a lawyer in Salt Lake City or a town near you. 

Shauna Holdaway  is a legal writer reporter for Fusion 360, an SEO and content marketing agency. Information provided by Robert J Debry.