Have you been injured in a crash involving improperly loaded or unsecured truck cargo in Fort Worth, Texas? Anderson Injury Lawyers can help when you call (817) 294-1900. We offer a free consultation with a Fort Worth cargo truck accident lawyer who can investigate what caused the crash and identify the parties that may be responsible.
Commercial trucks transport heavy loads that must be properly loaded and secured. When cargo shifts, falls from a trailer, or affects a truck’s stability, nearby motorists can suffer serious injuries. Determining what went wrong may require investigating the driver, trucking company, cargo loaders, and others involved in transporting the shipment.
Why Choose Anderson Injury Lawyers After an Accident in Fort Worth, TX
A serious cargo truck accident can put you up against trucking companies, commercial insurers, and other businesses involved in transporting the load. Anderson Injury Lawyers has decades of experience representing injured Texans and pursuing compensation on their behalf.
Clients in Fort Worth, TX, choose our Fort Worth truck accident lawyers because:
- Founding attorney Mark Anderson has more than 30 years of legal experience
- We have recovered over $100 million for injured clients
- We handle cases on a contingency fee basis, so there are no upfront attorney’s fees
- Clients can communicate directly with their legal team and stay informed about their cases
We are ready to protect your interests and pursue the compensation you deserve. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation with a Fort Worth personal injury attorney.
How Can Improper Cargo Cause Truck Accidents?
Cargo can affect how a commercial truck handles on the road. If a load is improperly distributed or inadequately secured, it may shift while the truck is moving and make the vehicle more difficult to control.
Cargo-related accidents may result from:
- Cargo shifting inside a trailer
- Freight falling from a truck
- Improper weight distribution
- Overloaded trucks or trailers
- Inadequate tie-downs or securement devices
- Cargo spilling or leaking onto the roadway
A shifting load can contribute to a rollover or cause a driver to lose control. Cargo that falls onto the roadway can also create a sudden hazard for motorists who have little time to avoid it.
What Injuries Are Common in Cargo Truck Accidents?
The size and weight of commercial trucks can make collisions particularly dangerous for people in smaller vehicles. Falling cargo can create additional hazards, especially when trucks are transporting heavy equipment, construction materials, or other large items.
Injuries that our Fort Worth truck accident lawyers handle may include:
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Crush injuries
- Severe cuts and lacerations
- Burns
- Amputations
Some cargo truck crashes result in permanent disabilities or fatal injuries. The nature and severity of the injuries can affect the amount and types of compensation available in a personal injury claim.
Who Can Be Liable for Improperly Loaded or Unsecured Cargo?
Determining liability after a cargo truck accident requires looking at who was responsible for loading, securing, inspecting, and transporting the cargo. The truck driver is not necessarily the only party that may be responsible.
Depending on the circumstances, liable parties may include:
- The truck driver
- The trucking company
- A cargo loading company
- A shipping or logistics company
- The owner of the truck or trailer
- A company responsible for securement equipment
- Another party whose negligence contributed to the crash
More than one party may share responsibility for an accident. Texas law provides for allocating responsibility among parties in applicable cases, making it important to determine how each person or company contributed to the harm.
What Cargo-Securement Rules Apply to Commercial Trucks?
Federal regulations require cargo on covered commercial trucks to be contained, immobilized, or secured to prevent it from creating a safety hazard.
Specific requirements include:
- Securement equipment must be in proper working order
- Cargo that can roll must be restrained with chocks, wedges, cradles, or similar devices
- Tiedowns must remain secured while the truck is moving
- The securement system’s working load limit must be at least half the weight of the cargo being secured
- Drivers must generally inspect cargo and securement devices within the first 50 miles of a trip
Additional rules apply to specific types of cargo, including logs, metal coils, concrete pipe, vehicles, heavy machinery, and large boulders. Failure to follow applicable cargo-securement rules can be important when determining how a truck accident occurred and who was responsible.
What Evidence Can Help Prove a Cargo Truck Accident Claim?
Evidence from a cargo truck accident can help establish how the load was prepared, who handled it, and why it shifted or fell. Some records may be held by the trucking company, shipper, loading company, or other businesses involved in the shipment.
Important evidence may include:
- Photos and videos from the accident scene
- Police crash reports
- Witness statements
- Bills of lading and shipping documents
- Cargo loading records
- Weight tickets
- Driver inspection records
- Truck and trailer maintenance records
- Electronic data from the commercial vehicle
- Dashcam or surveillance footage
Physical evidence from the truck, trailer, cargo, and securement equipment may also be important. Preserving this information can help investigators reconstruct what happened and identify the parties that may be liable.
Our Fort Worth truck accident attorneys can help you uncover necessary evidence to prove your claim.
Schedule a Free Consultation With Our Fort Worth Cargo Truck Accident Lawyers
If you were injured in a cargo truck accident in Fort Worth, TX, Anderson Injury Lawyers can help you determine what caused the crash and who may be responsible. These cases can involve trucking companies, cargo loaders, shipping companies, and other parties, making a thorough investigation important.
Our Fort Worth cargo truck accident attorneys can gather evidence, handle the insurance companies, and pursue compensation for your injuries and losses. Call or contact us online today to schedule a free consultation and discuss your case.