Federal law allows commercial trucks traveling through the Grand Canyon State on interstate highways to weigh up to 80,000 pounds across their cab, trailer, and cargo combined, and broadly similar weight limits apply to in-state commercial transportation. While that might seem like an incomprehensible amount of mass to the average person, some irresponsible trucking companies unfortunately see it as a stifling restriction that limits their profits.
Sometimes, these trucking companies will knowingly break the law by loading an unsafe amount of cargo into one of their vehicles, making it exponentially more likely for an accident to occur. Fortunately, victims of overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Mesa have the right to pursue compensation for their injuries. If you were hurt in such an accident, the dedicated truck injury attorneys at Phillips Law Group can help.
It is not uncommon for an individual truck driver to be the person primarily at fault for overloading their own trailer, especially if they work as an independent contractor rather than as an employee of a large transportation company. In some cases, it may be that a third party—such as a worker at a loading dock—is at fault for failing to follow instructions and attaching the wrong trailer to a truck or loading it with the wrong cargo.
Most of the time, however, the main factor contributing to overweight truck accidents on Mesa highways is the irresponsible trucking companies who deliberately overload their vehicles in order to save time and money on routes. In some situations, these companies pressure their employees into going along with this unlawful behavior by threatening to take away preferred routes or even terminate their employment.
Unfortunately, trucking companies who overload their trucks in violation of state or federal law often take steps to obscure their illegal behavior, some of which are unlawful acts themselves. Because of this, documents such as shipping manifests, driver logs, and even weigh station records are not always dependable sources of information for lawsuits and settlement demands over Mesa overweight truck wrecks.
However, many forms of evidence that play key roles in other types of truck crash cases can also be very helpful when suing over an overloaded truck accident. These pieces of evidence may include:
A skilled legal professional can also examine existing documentary evidence and look for signs that it has been altered or falsified—which, given that the standard of proof for civil cases is based on a preponderance of the evidence, could serve as powerful proof of liability on its own.
Loading too much cargo into a semi-truck’s trailer makes it more difficult for the driver to steer and stop the vehicle using the brakes. It also makes the truck more likely to break down in transit and tip over on sharp turns or during uncontrolled skids. While wrecks involving these vehicles when they are carrying the appropriate weight are already extremely dangerous, overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Mesa can have particularly devastating consequences for survivors.
If you were injured in such an accident, there may be multiple people you can file civil suit against. A legal representative from Phillips Law Group can help you identify the responsible parties and obtain the compensation you deserve for your injuries. Call today to discuss your potential case during a free, no-obligation consultation.
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