A truck carrying too large a load is unstable, and even the most experienced commercial driver can lose control and cause a wreck. Drivers must, therefore, exercise extreme care when sharing the road with a truck hauling an oversized load to avoid getting hurt or having their cars totaled.
There are numerous reasons why these oversized load truck accidents can occur in St. Louis, MO, and many of them are preventable. A thorough investigation into the circumstances of your accident is essential to recovering the compensation you need and deserve. And thankfully, the St. Louis truck accident lawyers from Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers are here to help.
Contact our law office to schedule a free consultation at (636) 519-0085.
How Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers Can Help After An Oversized Load Truck Accident In St. Louis, MO
Though legal counsel is not required to pursue a damages claim, having a St. Louis truck accident attorney analyze your crash’s details can significantly affect how your case is resolved and how quickly you receive compensation.
Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers’ team is well-equipped to help you after a commercial truck wreck. We have 30 years of combined experience and have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for our clients. Members of our legal team have been recognized by The National Trial Lawyers, the Million Dollar Advocates Forum, America’s Top 100 Personal Injury Attorneys, and other prestigious legal organizations.
Our work will consist of the following steps:
- Taking the time to understand your situation, concerns, and questions
- Looking at your accident from all angles to identify all potentially liable parties
- Collecting evidence necessary to establish liability
- Considering your immediate and long-term financial needs when seeking compensation
- Handling all paperwork needed to file and pursue your claim
- Speaking with insurance adjusters and other attorneys on your behalf
Our St. Louis personal injury lawyers are fierce negotiators during settlement negotiations, and we are more than ready to be skillful litigators if your claim must go to court. Ultimately, our mission is to secure the compensation you need and deserve for injuries. Contact our law office in St. Louis, Missouri to schedule a free consultation.
What Are Commercial Truck Weight and Size Limits?
Federal and state laws set the maximum weight allowed for commercial vehicles. Generally, commercial trucks in Missouri cannot exceed a gross vehicle weight (GVW) of 80,000 pounds. A truck’s GVW is the combined weight of its cab, trailer, and any load it is carrying.
There are also limits to the amount of weight that can be carried on a commercial truck’s axles. Single axles cannot bear more than 20,000 pounds in weight for interstate travel and 22,000 pounds for travel on local highways. Two axles that are close together can bear up to 34,000 pounds for interstate travel and 36,000 pounds otherwise.
In addition, trucks and their loads may be no more than 53 feet long, 14 feet high, and 8.6 feet wide on the interstate. For a truck to carry an oversized load that exceeds either the weight or size limit, its driver must first obtain a permit.
What Happens When A Truck Carries An Overweight Load?
Trucks that exceed the established weight and size limits are dangerous to drive. They will take longer to stop once their brakes are applied and can cause jackknife accidents if stopped too suddenly. The tires on the cab and trailer will also be at a greater risk of blowout, and (depending on how the trailer is loaded) the truck will be more prone to tipping as well.
Who Is Responsible For An Overweight Load In St. Louis?
Truck drivers are primarily responsible for ensuring their truck and trailer comply with all federal and state laws, including weight limits. Therefore, when a crash happens because a truck is oversized—and severe injuries are result—it is standard practice to first seek compensation from the truck driver and their insurance company.
However, there may be others who bear blame as well and should be held to account, such as:
The Trucker’s Employer
Those who employ commercial drivers may be held responsible for weight-related accidents, especially if they’ve actively encouraged truckers to drive while their vehicles were overweight. For example, a company that provides incentives to truckers who haul large loads in violation of federal and state rules can face legal consequences when wrecks occur.
The Loading Company
The freight company may also bear some responsibility if it knew (or should have known) that it was overloading the trailer. It may also face liability if it unevenly loads the trailer. These companies cannot escape responsibility by claiming they were simply following the trucker’s or another person’s orders.
Other Potentially Liable Parties
Although less common, mechanics, pilot vehicles, and product manufacturers can bear some responsibility in an oversized truck accident. To determine the responsibility these parties bear, one must carefully consider their actions, ask whether they were unreasonable according to an objective standard, and whether they were causally related to the crash.
Contact Our St. Louis Truck Accident Lawyers For A Free Consultation
At Roach Law Car Accident Lawyers, we provide all of our clients with free, no-cost initial case reviews. We will address your most pressing questions and concerns, give you an informed idea of what your case could be worth, and outline how our firm can help you recover damages. Contact our St. Louis truck accident attorneys to schedule your consultation today.
