Overloading a truck with cargo is a dangerous choice that can result in serious accidents, injuries, and, in some cases, fatalities. Several parties may be liable for the damages from this type of crash, and you or a loved one may be entitled to compensation. Our semi-truck crash attorneys at Thurswell Law have the experience and knowledge to help clients understand their rights in overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Southfield and pursue claims.
Our firm has been representing clients in their personal injury cases since 1968, giving us a reputation for experience that gets results. Recovering from a serious truck accident can be a long process. Our goal is to lead you through every step with compassion and strength.
How Do Overweight Trucks Cause Accidents?
An overweight or overloaded truck increases the risk of an accident because the truck driver may lose their ability to safely control the vehicle. Trucks carrying more cargo than they should are harder to turn, are more difficult to stop or slow down, and can more easily topple under the right conditions. Accidents from an overloaded truck can occur under the following circumstances:
- Speeding
- Driving in bad weather
- Changing lanes or turning
- Failing to yield the right of way
- Tailgating
Hauling overweight cargo can also cause a truck to have mechanical failures while in operation. Examples of these issues include flat tires, suspension damage, broken hitches, brake failure, and locked steering, all of which can cause an accident. This is why Michigan Compiled Laws § 257.722 has strict vehicle weight limits based on a vehicle’s length and number of axles.
Discovering that a truck’s weight was a contributing factor in an accident can be a difficult task. Our Southfield lawyers could review police reports or other records from the accident to obtain information about a truck’s weight and cargo, including a truck’s black box data, transportation logs, and weigh station records.
Liability in an Overweight Truck Accident
Liability for injury or death from a collision with an overloaded truck in Southfield can be a complex analysis. While the truck can be a contributing cause, it may not be the only one. MCL § 600.2957 requires a jury to assign a percentage of fault to each party for the role their actions did or did not have in causing the truck accident. Many overweight truck accidents involve commercial operations, meaning several related parties could share in the fault and liability for injuries. Examples of responsible parties may include the vehicle’s owner, a distribution company, a cargo loading business, and others in the supply chain.
The compensation our lawyers at Thurswell Law could seek in a case may depend on the injuries and damages you or a loved one incurs from the accident. Common types of damages we could claim include the following:
- Lost wages
- Diminished earning ability
- Medical care costs
- Rehabilitative care costs
- Pain and suffering
- Diminished quality or enjoyment of life
- Lost enjoyment of relationships
You generally have three years from the date of an accident to file a claim for personal injury or wrongful death under MCL § 600.5805.
Contact Us About Your Overloaded or Overweight Truck Crash Case in Southfield
Meeting with our experienced attorneys as soon as possible after an accident is important for evaluating your rights and determining whether you have a case. At Thurswell Law, we have experience handling claims for overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Southfield. For help pursuing compensation for your injuries, call us today and schedule a free consultation.
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