Modern tractor-trailers are designed to safely and securely transport dozens of tons of cargo on routes hundreds or even thousands of miles long. In practice, though, these vehicles are only safe if the people operating them are well-trained and responsible while driving. Truckers must also avoid inadvertently or intentionally loading more cargo onto their trailers than they are legally allowed to carry.
Trucking companies that fail to obey federal and state weight limits for commercial truck traffic put their own drivers and everyone else on the road at risk of catastrophic harm. If you need a seasoned truck injury attorney who knows how to deal with the legal aspects of overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Lowell, contact the Law Offices of David W. Holub. We could help you understand and enforce your right to seek civil restitution.
How Do Federal and State Laws Restrict Commercial Truck Weight?
When it comes to maximum weight limits, commercial truck drivers may be subject to federal or state jurisdiction depending on what type of road they are traveling on and where their route is taking them. When truckers are traveling on interstate highways, crossing state lines, or otherwise using the National Highway System, they are restricted to a maximum gross vehicle weight rating—meaning the total weight across their cargo, cab, and trailer—of 80,000 pounds.
Indiana imposes this same maximum weight limit on in-state traffic and also enforces standard federal restrictions on truck weight per single axle and per axle group, which are respectively 20,000 pounds and 34,000 pounds. The state also restricts tri-axle weight to 50,000 pounds and maximum wheel weight to 800 pounds per inch of tire width. A Lowell attorney who is experienced with overweight truck crash lawsuits could explain these weight limits in more detail.
Holding a Trucking Company Liable for Overloading a Tractor-Trailer
If a truck’s weight is in violation of federal or state laws, the trucking company could be held liable for any injuries stemming from a wreck involving that vehicle. It does not matter whether or not the truck was intentionally overloaded, but it is very rare for a commercial truck to be overweight by accident. When trucking companies purposely overload their trucks for financial gain, they may act unlawfully again when facing civil liability for a crash.
If you are intending to sue over an overloaded truck wreck in Lowell, you may not be able to trust that documents such as shipping manifests and driver logs have not been altered, lost, or intentionally destroyed. Guidance from capable legal counsel could be key not only to tracking down as much important information as possible but also to verifying that the evidence is accurate.
Contact a Lowell Attorney for Help With an Overloaded or Overweight Truck Crash Claim
Even by the usual standards of truck crash litigation, lawsuits, and settlement demands over overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Lowell can be uniquely complex. Because of the severity of injuries that these types of wrecks often cause and the fact that crucial evidence may be hard to find or even purposefully tampered with by defendants, it can be virtually impossible to achieve a favorable outcome from this type of claim if you pursue it alone.
Fortunately, you have support available to you from tenacious legal professionals who have years of experience helping people like you get paid fairly after accidents. Contact us today to learn what our team at the Law Offices of David W. Holub could do for you.