Whether in the bed of a pickup, on a flatbed trailer, or in a semi truck’s trailer, when truck loads are unsecured, they pose a serious hazard for other motorists. Shifting weight or falling objects can contribute to collisions and cause serious injury. When they do, victims of these unsecured truck load accidents can seek compensation from liable parties through personal injury claims with the assistance of a truck accident lawyer.
Why Unsecured Loads Pose a Risk to Motorists
Unsecured loads pose a risk to other motorists in two main ways:
- Shifting Loads – When a truck’s load shifts to one side, it can increase the chances of a rollover accident. If it shifts forward, it can reduce a truck’s ability to stop quickly. While shifting loads are a bigger problem for box trucks and semis, they can also contribute to pickup truck accidents.
- Falling Loads – When a truck’s load comes loose and falls onto the road, the resulting debris can harm other drivers in various ways. The falling load could strike another vehicle, puncture tires, or force drivers to take evasive action, leading to an accident.
Common Types of Unsecured Loads
Some of the most common types of unsecured loads that contribute to accidents are:
- Lumber – Stacks of wood falling from a pickup or delivery truck can create major road obstructions, leading to multi-care accidents and severe vehicle damage and injuries.
- Ladders and Tools – Ladders falling from construction vehicles can block traffic lanes, and unsecured tools can bounce unpredictably on the road, smashing windshields and puncturing tires.
- Furniture – Large items like mattresses, chairs, tables, and dressers can cause serious accidents if they fall and end up in the middle of a busy street or highway.
- Scrap Metal – Sharp pieces of metal can poke holes in tires or damage windshields. Truck drivers should always tie a tarp down over the load when transporting scrap metal.
Who’s Liable for an Unsecured Load Accident?
If you suffered an injury caused by a truck’s unsecured load, some of the parties who could be liable for your injuries include:
- Truck Drivers – Drivers have a responsibility to make sure the cargo they’re carrying is secure before heading onto public roads where others could be in danger.
- Trucking Companies – Companies that don’t enforce policies in line with the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration’s (FMCSA) cargo securement rules could be liable.
- Cargo Loaders – Cargo loading companies, such as the ones that load tractor-trailers at warehouses, could be liable if they let a truck leave with an improperly secured load.
An experienced truck accident attorney can help you identify all liable parties in your case so you can seek the maximum amount of compensation.
Common Injuries Caused by Unsecured Loads
Victims of accidents caused by unsecured loads may suffer from the following injuries:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries – TBIs occur when the brain strikes the inside of the skull. These injuries can happen if your vehicle strikes part of a load that fell from a truck.
- Broken Bones – The impact of hitting an object in the road that fell off a truck can cause broken bones.
- Lacerations – If unsecured cargo breaks your windshield, the broken glass can cause lacerations requiring stitches.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – Heavy impacts can cause spinal discs to shift, damaging the spinal cord. Severe spinal cord injuries may result in permanent paralysis.
- Whiplash – Whiplash is one of the most common motor vehicle accident injuries and occurs when the head violently moves forward and backward or from side to side, straining the neck muscles.
Truck Accident Attorneys Serving Northern New Mexico
If you were injured in an accident caused by a truck’s unsecured load in Santa Fe and Northern New Mexico, contact the Hunt Law Firm for a free consultation. Our attorneys will review your case, explain your legal options, and begin investigating the circumstances of the accident.