A commercial truck becomes harder to control, stop, and maneuver safely when its weight exceeds legal limits. If you suffered injuries in a collision with an excessively heavy tractor-trailer, our truck crash attorneys can help you. We have extensive experience with cases involving overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Northglenn.
Our lawyers at Hull & Zimmerman, P.C. are committed to protecting the rights of injured victims. We can use federal and state trucking regulations to protect your right to fair compensation.
Why Overloading Trucks Increases Accident Risks
Overloaded trucks pose severe dangers on Northglenn highways and city streets, significantly increasing the likelihood of catastrophic accidents. A fully loaded truck needs approximately 40% more distance to stop than a passenger vehicle. An overloaded truck extends this distance even further, making rear-end collisions more likely when traffic slows unexpectedly.
Excessive weight also compromises a truck’s structural integrity and mechanical systems. Overloaded vehicles experience accelerated brake wear, potentially leading to brake failure on steep grades or during emergency stops. The added stress on tires increases blowout risks, which can cause truckers to lose control and veer into other lanes. Suspension systems buckle under extreme weight, affecting steering responsiveness and overall vehicle stability.
Weight distribution becomes critical when trucks carry more cargo than they are designed to hold. Improperly balanced loads shift during transit, causing the vehicles to tip during turns or lane changes. Rollover accidents are particularly devastating, often involving multiple vehicles and resulting in serious injuries or fatalities. Center-of-gravity changes make overloaded trucks more susceptible to jackknifing, especially in adverse weather conditions.
Regulations Against Overloading
Federal regulations establish strict weight limits for commercial trucks, typically capping gross vehicle weight at 80,000 pounds on interstate highways. Trucking companies that ignore these regulations to maximize profits put everyone on the road at risk.
Victims of accidents involving overloaded trucks often suffer catastrophic injuries requiring extensive medical treatment and long-term care. Evidence of weight violations strengthens personal injury claims because it clearly demonstrates carelessness and regulatory non-compliance.
Our Northglenn attorneys understand Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration regulations, know how to file claims against commercial insurance policies, and have the resources to hire accident reconstruction experts and medical specialists to strengthen your overweight or overloaded truck wreck claim and maximize your compensation.
Why Should You Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer?
If you suffered injuries because an overweight or overloaded semitrailer hit your car, our Northglenn legal team can initiate a personal injury claim to seek compensation for you. Damages you may be able to claim include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost income
- Future financial losses
- Pain and suffering
- Permanent disability
Truck accident cases also involve complex legal challenges that require specialized knowledge, making a skilled legal team all the more necessary. These crashes typically involve multiple liable parties, which can include:
This makes it difficult to identify all responsible parties without legal guidance.
Evidence Used in Overloaded Truck Accident Cases
Evidence can include driver logs, maintenance records, and federal compliance documents. It is multifaceted and time-sensitive and requires immediate preservation before it is destroyed or altered. Trucking companies have aggressive legal representatives and insurance adjusters who work to minimize payouts.
The attorneys in our Northglenn office can also use black box data, weigh station records, and loading documents to help establish whether excessive weight or cargo contributed to your tractor-trailer collision.
Contact Our Northglenn Lawyers After an Overweight or Overloaded Truck Crash
Because truck accident claims are complicated, you should hire our legal team as soon as possible if you sustained injuries in a collision with an overloaded semitrailer. Our lawyers at Hull & Zimmerman have years of experience in representing victims of overloaded/overweight truck accidents in Northglenn. Call us today to discuss your case.
