While traveling down the interstate, you might have noticed signs indicating oversized loads. While these warnings can help alert you that the vehicle nearby is larger than the average vehicle on the road, you might not fully appreciate the risk these loads can constitute – until you’re involved in an oversize load truck accident in Dallas, Texas.
If you were hurt in an oversized load accident, the team at Anderson Injury Lawyers is here to help. We offer a free case review with a knowledgeable Dallas truck accident lawyer so you can get to know us and learn about your legal rights and options. Contact our personal injury law firm at (214) 327-8000 today to get started.
How Our Dallas Truck Accident Attorneys Can Help After a Crash Caused By an Oversized Load?
If you are injured in a truck accident, you may be dealing with serious injuries. The size and weight of commercial trucks are significantly more than the average passenger vehicle, and even more so when an oversized load is involved.
If a careless driver injured you, you deserve zealous legal representation from a truck accident lawyer in Dallas, TX who puts your needs first.
When you hire us after an oversized load truck accident, we will:
- Investigate the cause of the accident
- Identify all at-fault parties
- Provide you with invaluable legal advice and guidance
- Explain your legal rights and options
- Handle communications on your behalf
- Negotiate aggressively for fair compensation
Our legal team is ready to help you with every aspect of your claim. Contact our Dallas law office today for a free consultation.
What Is an Oversized Load?
According to The Secretary of Transportation, oversized loads on the federal level are those that exceed the following limits:
- Maximum gross vehicle weight of 80,000
- 20,000 pounds on a single axle
- 34,000 pounds on a tandem axle group
- 13 feet and 6 inches height
- 8 feet and 6 inches width
- 65 feet in length
In Texas, vehicles need to receive a permit if they exceed the standard size of vehicles up to the following limits:
- 16 feet width permitted on controlled-access highways
- 20 feet width
- 18 feet, 11 inches maximum height
- 125 maximum length
Trucks carrying oversized loads may be subject to additional restrictions, such as the time of day or night when they can be driven and which roads they can traverse.
What Are Truckers’ Responsibilities Related to Oversized Truck Loads?
Truckers must comply with all local, state, and federal regulations related to oversized truckloads, as well as standards for operating a commercial vehicle in a safe manner. Additionally, they must ensure that they safely secure the load and conduct periodic inspections to check if the load has shifted during transit.
What Are the Risks of Overloaded Trucks in Dallas, Texas?
Commercial trucks are difficult to operate. The greater the weight and size, the more difficult they are to maneuver. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that trucks that weighed more than 10,000 pounds were involved in more accidents than those that weighed less than 10,000 pounds in 2020.
Some of the reasons why overloaded trucks are more difficult to drive are because they:
- Require more time to stop once the driver recognizes a potential hazard
- Have large blind spots around them
- Are prone to the load shifting during transit
- Require much wider turns
- May be too large to avoid damaging the truck in certain areas, such as under bridges or on ramps
- Put more wear and tear on the various components of the vehicle
- May be required to be driven at night, when drivers are more likely to get drowsy
Our experienced Dallas personal injury attorneys can thoroughly investigate your claim and determine if these risks may have played a role in your truck accident.
Who Is Responsible For an Overloaded Truck Accident in Dallas, TX?
Overloaded truck accidents can cause serious damage, so it’s important to correctly identify all potentially at-fault parties, which may include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company that hired the truck driver
- The truck owner
- The mechanic or shop responsible for maintaining the truck
- The company that is responsible for loading the truck
- The manufacturer of the oversized item
An experienced Dallas accident lawyer can also help identify the compensation that may be available to you.
Potential Compensation in a Dallas Truck Accident Case
You may be able to pursue compensation for the following types of accident-related losses:
- Medical expenses
- Future medical expenses
- Lost income
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Disfigurement
- Permanent disability
- Loss of enjoyment of life
An experienced truck accident attorney in Dallas can help determine the potential value of your claim.
Contact Our Personal Injury Lawyers If You Were Injured in an Dallas Truck Crash Lawyer
Truck drivers and the companies that hire them must act responsibly when hauling large items and loads across the state or country. If they violated their legal responsibilities and injured you in an oversized load truck accident in Dallas, the team at Anderson Injury Lawyers is here to help.
We provide a free, no-obligation consultation, so contact us today to learn about your legal options to recover fair compensation.