Unsecured Load & Cargo in Truck Accidents

Guidance from an Experienced Albuquerque Truck Accident Attorney

Commercial trucks on the highway can become a source of hazards for many reasons, including unsecured cargo spilling out of the trailer and onto the road. If you were driving down a highway in New Mexico and loose cargo caused your accident, James Wood Law and our Albuquerque truck accident lawyers can help. We have focused much of our practice on truck accidents in particular, making our team highly familiar with the tactics used by trucking companies as they try to shirk responsibility in and out of the court.

What makes our injury team unique:

We also offer our clients free initial consultations in their home or hospital room because we know that the last thing you want to do is travel to a law office after being seriously injured in a truck accident.

Call (505) 906-6774 to schedule one with our experienced, knowledgeable, and compassionate team today.

Common Causes of Unsecured Truck Cargo

Three main reasons why cargo spills onto highways in transit include:

  • Loose securements: Straps, chains, barriers, and other securements on truck beds and in truck trailers must be as tight as can be before the truck leaves the depot. While load crews are directly accountable for securing cargo, the trucker might also be partially liable, as they still have the responsibility of double-checking cargo before leaving each stop along the route. Falling cargo can cause crush cars and leave dangerous debris in front of unsuspecting drivers.
  • Overloaded exceeding the weight limit: Sometimes all the best securements in the world will not be enough to hold cargo in place if the trailer itself is overloaded. When a trailer is beyond maximum capacity, the doors can pop open in transit, especially if the back of the trailer uses a two-door system, rather than one rolling bay door. An overloaded truck also affects manueverability and slow down braking times.
  • Unsafe truck operation: Many cases involving unsecured cargo ejecting into nearby traffic also involve the trucker driving recklessly or negligently. Without the proper care put into safe driving while operating such a large vehicle, freight of all sorts can easily come loose.

Falling cargo is very dangerous. Trucks are often carrying hundreds of pounds of cargo, and when that falls on top of cars, the results can be catastrophic.

Proving Fault in an Unsecured Cargo Accident

Truck accident claims often prove to be too complicated for people to handle without the help of a personal injury attorney, mainly due to the fact that pinpointing the reasons for the truck accident can get intricate and fast. Simply saying that there was unsecure cargo in your path is one thing, but being able to prove that it was there, as well as the how’s and why’s of the accident, is another better thing altogether.

To help prove liability in your fallen cargo case, we look at:

  • Statements from eyewitnesses
  • Black box data
  • Logbooks from drivers
  • Cargo load records

Have an experienced truck accident lawyer who understands the intricacies of cases involving fallen and unsecured cargo. We have handled many cases like this, and we know where to look, what evidence to use, and how to effectively present it in a claim.

Act Quickly to Empower Your Own Claim

Waiting too long to file a truck accident claim after being hurt by loose cargo can be a serious mistake. Not only could you miss New Mexico’s statute of limitations but you also give the liable party more time to build an argument to try to defend themselves and place liability onto you, the injured party. You can rely on our truck accident attorneys in Albuquerque for responsive and quick-thinking representation, backed by decades of combined experience managing complicated injury claims.

We can start you off on the right foot with a free consultation. Call (505) 906-6774 today.

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