report by one local news source, the accident occurred around 12:30 p.m. on the northbound side of the Turnpike.The semi-truck was carrying a directional boring machine, which is a 40,000-pound piece of heavy machinery. Evidently, the load on the semi-truck shifted, which caused the load to fall off the truck and onto the highway. Emergency crews spent hours trying to figure out how to move the giant piece of machinery without causing it–or the semi-truck itself–to fall off the overpass onto the highway below. Eventually, crews secured the truck and its cargo with heavy-duty cables.Making matters worse, emergency crews later noticed that there had also been a fuel spill caused by the accident. Luckily, no one was injured or killed as a result of the accident. However, traffic was held up for hours. There were even reports of people running out of gas while waiting in traffic for the scene to clear.
Improper Loading Can Cause Accidents
A spokesperson for the North Texas Tollway Authority described the cause of this accident as a cargo-loading problem. This means that the 40,000-pound piece of machinery was improperly loaded onto the semi-truck that was supposed to carry it.
Because of this improper loading, the machine fell off the truck and caused a major accident that could have very easily resulted in the loss of human life or at least in serious injury to a large number of people. Luckily, that was not the case this time.
Truck drivers and companies have a duty to safely load trucks for transport on our highways. All too often, however, the person loading a truck fails to take the time to really think about what it is he or she is doing and how important a job it is. When this happens, mistakes are made like the one described above.
While this accident resulted in little more than an inconvenience for those involved, we can’t always get so lucky. When accidents injure innocent people, those at fault can be held responsible for their negligence.
Have You Been Injured in a Texas Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in a Texas truck accident, you may be entitled to monetary compensation for your injuries or losses. In fact, even if you are partially at fault for the accident, the laws of Texas may still allow you to recover for your injuries. To learn more about the laws in Texas that permit accident victims to seek compensation, contact the dedicated Fort Worth personal injury attorney William K. Berenson. Attorney Bill Berenson has over 30 years of experience representing injured Texans, and he knows how to bring a winning case in the Lone Star State. Call 817-885-8000 to schedule a free consultation today.
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