Earlier this week, one truck driver was killed in an accident involving two trucks that occurred in Smith County. According to a report by the local NBC affiliate, one truck was attempting to make a left onto County Road 21 to head south. Another truck on County Road 21 was heading north when it collided with the turning truck, killing the driver. The driver who was killed was driving a logging truck and the other driver was driving a semi truck that was hauling a flatbed trailer.
How a Truck’s Cargo Affects It’s Drivability
If you have ever driven a car full of people, you understand that there is a difference in the control, acceleration, and stopping distance when the car is full of people. This is because the additional weight that the passengers add to the car places a strain on the car’s engine, brakes, tires, and steering mechanisms.
The exact same is true with semi trucks. As a truck is loaded with more and more cargo, the added weight stresses several safety aspects of the vehicles. For example, an over loaded or improperly loaded truck will require a longer distance to come to a complete stop, especially when traveling at highway speeds. In addition, an overloaded truck may also tip over more easily than a driver expects.
Semi trucks can weigh up to 80,000 pounds when fully loaded. Much of this weight is cargo. Generally, trucks are rated to carry a certain amount of cargo. However, sometimes that number is ignored when the weight limit is inconvenient. For example, if a truck is only rated to carry 40,000 pounds, but there is a 50,000 pound load, the driver may be pressured into carrying the entire load in one trip. This is what is called over loading.
When a semi truck is over loaded or improperly loaded with cargo, the chances of that truck becoming involved in an accident skyrocket. And, due to the nature of semi trucks, when they do get into an accident, the chances of it being a serious–or even fatal–accident are high.
What To Do if You Have Been Involved in a Semi Truck Accident
If you have been involved in a semi truck accident in the Dallas/Fort Worth area, you should seek the counsel of a dedicated and experienced Fort Worth truck accident attorney. The law often allows for truck accident victims to recover from the trucking company as well as the truck driver. With an attorney’s assistance you will be able to understand more fully how the law might apply to the specific facts of your case.
The Law Offices of William K. Berenson have over 30 years of experience defending the rights of injured Texans. The firm’s founder, Bill Berenson, is a veteran Fort Worth personal injury attorney who is Board Certified as a Specialist in Personal Injury Trial Law. The passionate attorneys at the Law offices of William K. Berenson know how difficult it can be to be involved in a serious auto accident and will do everything they can to provide you with the full service representation you deserve. To contact an attorney today, click here or call 817-855-0000 locally, or 1-888-801-8585 toll-free.
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