Denver Overloaded Truck Collision Attorneys
Representing Overloaded Truck Collision Victims
An overloaded truck – or a truck carrying too much either for the weight limits or for the size of the truck itself – can cause extensive damage. They’re more prone to rollovers and jackknifes because they become top or side heavy. Their weight makes them almost impossible to stop once control has been lost, even with other cars in their path.
We at Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. have seen just how devastating these crashes can be. We have years of experience working with truck crash victims and know that there’s no way to truly fix what has been done. But we still do our best to fight for our clients’ right to compensation. If you or a loved one have been injured in an overloaded truck crash, contact us at (303) 759-9945 and find out what options are available to you.
Common Overloaded Truck Injuries
Truck collisions are devastating, especially collisions involving overloaded trucks. The average 18-wheeler weighs 80,000 lbs. When overloaded, that weight can dramatically increase. Something that size barreling towards even a larger end car will leave the car in pieces. The driver and passengers inside would likely suffer from:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBI)
- Spine injuries
- Amputation or loss of limb
- Broken, fractured, or crushed bones
- Lacerations
- Skull fractures
- Death
All of these injuries require extensive stays in the hospital and long recovery periods. They are likely to leave you with tremendous medical debts, force you to take time off of work, and may even result in psychological trauma. You shouldn’t suffer because of someone else’s negligence. We may not be able to change what happened, but Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. can still fight to win you the damages you deserve.
Recoverable Damages
In Colorado, there are two main groups of damages (compensation) you can be awarded when filing a personal injury claim. The first is economic damages. That covers monetary losses, such as medical bills, lost wages, and property damage, but there are plenty of other recoverable damages that count as economic. To find out exactly what you can and should claim for, speak with your truck crash attorney.
The second group is non-economic damages. This covers anything non-monetary, but mostly deals in emotional injuries caused by the crash. For example, physical impairment, pain and suffering, psychological damage, and emotional distress.
Overloaded Truck Liability
Like with other truck crashes, there are a few groups that may be held liable for your injuries. Who is determined to be at fault is concluded by the facts of the case, and every case is different. The first potentially liable party would be the truck drivers. Truckers are responsible for following the rules of the road, and that includes properly securing their cargo and making sure their truck isn’t overloaded. Weighing stations dot our nation’s highways. 18-wheelers are required to stop at them to make sure they aren’t carrying too much cargo. This means that a trucker should always be aware if their truck breaks regulations.
However, they may only be breaking regulations due to pressures from the company they work for, whether that be a trucking company or the company that produces the goods the trucker is transporting. There is often a lot of pressure on truckers to meet deadlines, even if those deadlines aren’t feasible due to distance, weather, or the amount of stuff that needs to be shipped. This means a truck driver may knowingly overload their truck, posing a danger to other drivers on the road, but only because they have been made to by their employers. When this is the case, the trucking company can also be held liable for your injuries.
Trucking Regulations
Trucks can pose an incredible danger to those on the road. In order to try and minimize the potential hazard, trucking regulations are in place. There are rules on how long truckers can drive for at one time, rules for where they must stop, and rules for how their truck is loaded.
- Trucks with loads the extend more than four inches out the back, or extend past the sides of the trailer, must attach flashing lights to the edge of the load in order to warn other drivers.
- If a truck is carrying cargo that may roll, the driver and loaders must keep said cargo restrained by wedges, cradles, or chocks.
- All cargo must be fastened securely at all times while the truck is moving.
- Loaded trucks may not travel during ‘hazardous’ conditions such as heavy snow, ice, mud, or reduced visibility.
- Trucks may not exceed 85,000 lbs., unless granted a permit.
- Trucks granted a permit may not exceed 110,000 lbs., and axles may not support over 20,000 lbs. each.
Understanding national and state loading laws can make all the difference in winning you your case. Many more regulations may also come to play into your claim. For example, mountainous states, such as Colorado, often restrict the types of cargo that can be carried on mountain roads. Failure by a trucking company to follow these state laws may result in liability. That’s why an experienced Denver truck collision attorney may be your best bet to receiving the damages you need and the justice you deserve.
Setting You on a Path to Recovery
If you’ve been injured in an overloaded truck crash, you’re likely feeling frightened, anxious, and aren’t sure of what to do next. We understand. It can feel almost impossible to figure out what your next steps should be when you’re also dealing with recovery, hospital bills, and emotional trauma. That’s why you should contact us at (303) 759-9945. We’ve been through this process with others like you before, and know what the next step should be. Call Leventhal Puga Braley P.C. and find out what we can do for you.
Great Trial Lawyers Obtaining Unparalleled Results
303-759-9945 
877-433-3906