Representing Victims of Negligent Trucking Companies

Overloaded commercial trucks are a menace on the roadways. All vehicles are required to abide by state and federal regulations regarding weight, including tractor-trailers. However, trucking companies will often overload their vehicles with cargo in order to maximize their profits. These heavy vehicles are difficult to control, often leading to catastrophic rear-end collisions, jackknifing, and rollover accidents.

If you were injured in an overloaded truck accident caused by a negligent driver or trucking company, then you should immediately contact the Tenge Law Firm, LLC. Our Fort Collins overloaded truck accident attorneys have more than 30 years of experience representing injured parties throughout Colorado and can build a strong case for compensation on your behalf. Call us at (970) 212-4777 to discuss your case in a free consultation.

What Are the Dangers of Overloaded Trucks?

When a truck is transporting cargo, the weight of the trailer will heavily influence the driver’s ability to control the vehicle. If it is improperly distributed or too heavy, the truck can tip over, take longer to stop, or swing wide during turns. State and federal agencies impose weight restrictions on commercial trucks in order to avoid serious auto accidents, however, they are still a serious threat on Colorado roadways. Overloaded trucks can contribute to an accident in a variety of ways, including by:

  • Increasing the vehicle’s tire pressure and causing a blowout
  • Raising the truck’s center of gravity, making it more likely to rollover
  • Making it harder for the truck to stop, often leading to rear-end collisions
  • Making it harder to respond to road conditions, such as sharp inclines or declines
  • Causing the cargo to shift within the trailer, leading to rollovers
  • Obstructing the view of the truck driver or other vehicle drivers

The weight of a truck and the proper distribution of cargo is the responsibility of several parties, all of which may be liable in a collision if they committed some act of negligence while loading a tractor-trailer or reviewing the truck’s weight.

Liability and Overloaded Trucks

Following your accident, you may be able to pursue compensation from one of a handful of parties who were responsible for the truck and its cargo, including:

  • The truck driver
  • The trucking company
  • The distribution center
  • The maintenance crew
  • The truck’s manufacturer

However, to determine who was at fault and to hold them liable for negligence, you will need to collect a significant amount of evidence that proves that the vehicle had exceeded legal weight limits during the collision. This evidence may include cargo manifests, loading bills, previous citations for overloading violations, and other documents. Your observations before the crash can also help support your claim. It may help your case if you observed:

  • Sagging or bowing in the trailer
  • Sudden, jerking motions or overcorrections by the driver
  • Loss of control on a downhill slope
  • Rollover or jackknifing of the truck

But, to ensure that not a single detail is left out of your case and that you receive proper compensation after an overloaded truck accident, you will need to contact an experienced attorney who can thoroughly review your case.

Pursuing Compensation After a Collision

Going up against a negligent trucking company and their insurance providers is no easy task. Their adjusters are well-trained in convincing accident victims to accept low-ball offers that ensure they do not have to pay out the full price of an accident. However, when you contact a knowledgeable lawyer, you can quickly learn what a proper settlement offer should include and how to hold a trucking company liable for negligence.

At the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, our Fort Collins truck accident attorneys have recovered hundreds of millions of dollars in compensation for our clients, all-the-while ensuring they are not burdened by stress throughout the process. That is why we work on a contingency fee basis, which means you do not have to pay us any legal fees unless we win a recovery for you. When you work with the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, you do not have to worry about paying for an experienced attorney and can focus your attention on recovering and getting back to your life. Call us at (970) 212-4777 to secure the best legal representation in Colorado.