18 Wheeler Accident Lawyers Assert Improper Loading, Excess Weight & Hazardous Cargo Contribute to 18 Wheeler Trucking Accidents
Experienced Truck Accident Lawyers Stand Up to the Trucking Companies and Their Insurance Providers
Victims of 18-wheeler accidents must speak with a qualified Truck Accident Lawyer in Indianapolis, IN, as soon as possible to understand their rights and how your attorney will seek the maximum compensation for losses. An accident can happen at any time, often resulting in tremendous damage, injury, and altered lives. At Ward & Ward Law Firm, our attorneys stand up to trucking companies to obtain the compensation you deserve.
Jack-knifed and overturned trucks | 18 Wheeler Accident Lawyers
While a standard car weighs around 5,000 pounds and is usually 10 to 15 feet in length, a fully-loaded 18-wheeler can weigh more than 80,000 pounds and measure 70 to 80 feet in length. In effect, a fully loaded trailer, the size of an 18-wheeler, increases the length of time necessary to safely come to a complete stop. And the tractor-trailer’s unique construction makes it unpredictable and difficult to control, even for the most experienced drivers.
The dangers of sharing the road with 18 wheelers
An experienced trucking accident lawyer helps you understand how 18-wheeler accidents happen and how various causes can alter your settlement.
The type of cargo a truck carries, unsafe loading and transporting practices play a role in many fatal 18-wheeler accidents:
Improper loading
When cargo is not correctly loaded or secured, items may shift in transit, causing trailers to become off-balance. An unbalanced load can create a dangerous scenario where the trailer rolls over or jack-knifes. Another problem with improper loading may cause cargo to become loose, falling off the truck with deadly results.
Exceeding weight limits
There are some very valid reasons for the Department of Transportation to impose tight regulations on trucking companies. Although weight is regulated by the Department of Transportation, it is not unusual for trucking companies to put their drivers and others at risk by overloading their trailers to increase profitability. Just what are the dangers of excess loading? Excess freight increases the distance and time needed for a truck to come to a complete stop. Under the stress of a sudden stop, the semi may generate excessive heat that impacts tire inflation, thereby causing blowouts and a loss of control. With a sudden stop maneuver, a trailer’s center of gravity may shift, and the likelihood of a rollover accident increases.
Dangerous cargo
Sometimes, it is the cargo itself that puts the lives of others in peril. And in an accident that involves the hauling of dangerous materials, the results can be catastrophic. To illustrate, many large semi-tractor trailers transport hazardous or flammable materials such as explosives, gasoline, and toxic poisons. And when those same tanker trailers jack-knife or roll, the dangers of toxic exposure, the threat of deadly explosions, and chemical burns may catastrophically affect those injured.
Attorneys experienced in litigating Indiana 18-wheeler truck accidents with injury and wrongful death cases
If you or someone you know has been injured or killed in an Indiana truck accident, get help from experienced Indianapolis truck accident lawyers. Contact Ward & Ward to arrange a free consultation. We are available to speak with you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Charlie Ward
cpw@WardLawFirm.com
728 S Meridian St
Indianapolis, IN 46225
317-639-9501
888-639-9501
Charles P. Ward
Attorney
Donald W. Ward
Attorney
