Overloaded/Overweight Truck Accidents in Rialto

Overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Rialto often occur when cargo is improperly distributed or secured and shifts around. This impacts the truck’s center of gravity and can cause jackknifing or trailer swing-outs. These truck accidents can result in severe injuries, fatalities, and significant damage to other vehicles.

If you were involved in a collision with an overloaded or improperly loaded truck, you may be able to pursue a personal injury lawsuit to recover monetary damages. One of our personal injury attorneys at CD Law could determine who is at fault and build a case that addresses your losses, including ongoing and future costs.

How Does Negligence Cause Overloaded Truck Collisions?

When a truck driver, trucking company, third-party loading company, or vehicle maintenance provider in Rialto fails to uphold their legal duty of care, their negligence may result in an overfilled truck crash.

When such a breach of duty leads to an accident and injuries, you and other victims may hold one or more parties liable for the resulting damages. Examples of negligence that can cause excessively heavy trucks to be involved in accidents include:

• Failure to inspect the load: A driver is often responsible for checking the load’s weight and ensuring it is properly distributed and secured before and during a trip
• Failure to drive appropriately: Excess weight affects a truck’s braking and handling, so a driver must adjust their speed and following distance
• Pressuring drivers: When a trucking company prioritizes profits and delivery schedules over safety by pressuring drivers to haul excessive loads or skip weigh stations. This may contribute to an accident, meaning the company could be held liable
• Negligent hiring or training: If a company hires drivers who are not properly licensed or trained to handle large vehicles and loads, they may be liable for negligent hiring
• Failure to enforce safety procedures: Companies that engage in lax oversight of their drivers’ adherence to safety protocols and federal regulations, including weight limits, may be held responsible
• Improperly loading cargo: If a third-party company or warehouse is responsible for loading the truck and they overload the trailer, fail to secure the cargo properly, or distribute the weight unevenly, they alter the truck’s center of gravity and increase the risk of a crash

Evidence is often destroyed or lost by the defense after a jackknife collision. Our team could help gather and preserve evidence to build the strongest possible case and pursue maximum compensation. Essential documentation could include hours-of-service logs, maintenance records, driver inspection reports, and data from the truck’s black box or electronic logging device.

Our team frequently consults with accident reconstruction specialists and medical professionals. Their expert opinions help clarify the complex issues of liability, causation, and damages in these cases.

What Compensation Is Available for Overloaded Truck Crash Injuries?

If you reside in Rialto and were injured in a collision caused by an overburdened truck, you could pursue compensation for a wide range of damages. These recoverable damages could include:

• Medical expenses: Costs for ambulance fees, emergency room visits (e.g., at Arrowhead Regional Medical Center), rehabilitation, physical therapy, medical appointments, prescription medicine, hospital stays, surgeries, and assistive devices
• Lost wages: Reimbursement for lost income, bonuses, overtime, and the value of vacation or sick days used for recovery
• Loss of earning capacity: Compensation for a reduced ability to earn a living due to permanent disability or long-term injury
• Property damage: The cost to repair or replace the damaged vehicle
• Other out-of-pocket expenses: These may include transportation to medical appointments, home modifications for accessibility, or at-home care expenses
• Pain and suffering: Compensation for the physical pain and emotional distress the accident and its aftermath caused

An experienced attorney could properly investigate the crash, build a strong case, and negotiate a fair settlement with the trucking company and its insurer.

Consult With a Rialto Attorney if You Were Involved in an Overweight Truck Crash

Cases surrounding overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Rialto are more complex than standard car accident cases. Consulting with an attorney is crucial. Our legal team could help you navigate complex federal regulations, prove liability against powerful trucking companies, and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve. Contact CD Law to request your free and confidential case consultation.