Overweight/Overloaded Truck Accidents

Dallas/Fort Worth Truck Accident Attorney

The Berenson Law Offices have 40 years of experience litigating accidents caused by overweight and overloaded trucks. The firm’s founder, Bill Berenson, is a successful  truck accident lawyer. He has been Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and understands the toll that an accident can have on you. That is why he has dedicated his career to fighting for the rights of Texans who have been injured in semi-truck and other vehicle accidents.

Semi-Truck Weight and Load Limits

The weight of semi-truck loads are regulated by various Texas and federal government agencies These limits are created because, if a truck is overloaded, the driver cannot maintain a safe level of control over the vehicle in many situations and the truck has a greatly increased stopping distance.

A truck’s carrying capacity is measured by its gross vehicle weight rating. The GVWR is calculated by taking into account many different aspects of the specific truck, including its:

• Braking system
• Frame
• Number of axels
• Quality of suspension
• Type of power train

To make sure that truck drivers maintain safe loads at all times, drivers are required to stop at weigh stations periodically throughout their routes. However, sometimes these weigh stations are closed or a truck driver intentionally bypasses a weigh station knowing that the load will not be in compliance.

Both the driver and the trucking corporation are responsible for complying with weight restrictions. A truck accident lawyer can help Arlington residents and other victims assert their rights against the driver and the truck company after an accident caused by a violation of these rules.

Overweight Trucks Are a Danger to Other Drivers

When a truck’s load exceeds its GVWR, then the driver is much more likely to lose control and get into an accident. The following are signs that a truck is overloaded:

• Increased stopping distance
• Increased potential to roll due to a higher center of gravity
• Higher speeds when travelling downhill
• Decreased steering capabilities, especially at high speeds

These factors contribute to the greater risk of accident and the more substantial injuries motorists sustain during a crash. For example, an overweight or unbalanced load can shift and cause a tractor-trailer to jackknife or tip over when suddenly switching lanes or taking a sharp turn too fast. Likewise, even an experienced driver who is aware of his truck’s normal stopping distance might not accurately calculate how the heavier weight affects his braking time.

Heavier weight also causes a more powerful force of impact. Therefore, overloaded trucks are more likely to result in catastrophic injuries to the occupants of smaller, lighter cars.

Have You Been Injured in a Trucking Accident?

If you have recently been injured in a semi-truck accident in Texas, it may have been due to the fact that the driver was carrying a load in excess of the truck’s GVWR. If this is the case, the truck driver was operating his vehicle in a negligent manner and you may be entitled to compensation based on this negligence. Our Arlington truck accident attorney can advise you on whether you have a claim. Liable parties in these situations may include not only the driver, but also the trucking company and their insurance carriers.

To find out what rights you have as an accident victim, you should speak with our experienced Dallas/Fort Worth personal injury attorney at the Law Offices of William K. Berenson. With close to 40 years of experience aggressively handling truck accident cases throughout the Dallas Fort Worth area, Mr. Berenson understands what it takes to recover compensation for you. As an attorney who is Board Certified in Personal Injury Trial Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization, Attorney Berenson knows how to navigate the world of personal injury law and is prepared to represent you in your truck accident case. Contact the Law Offices of William K. Berenson online, or by phone toll free at 1-888-801-8585 or locally at 817-855-8000 to set up a free initial consultation with our truck accident attorney.