When cargo on a truck is not secured or loaded properly in Roswell, it puts everyone on the roads at risk. Drivers and everyone else involved with the transportation of said cargo has a duty to ensure the process is safe. If you or a loved one was hurt because of improperly loaded cargo, one of our Roswell lawyers can help.
You should not have to bear the costs of an incident that was not your fault. At John Foy & Associates, we are dedicated to holding the driver, the trucking company, or some other responsible party liable for their negligence. Our goal is getting you the fullest compensation you deserve—as we have done for countless clients over the past 20 plus years.
Contact us today and we’ll get you started with a FREE consultation and case evaluation. We do not charge you a fee unless we win you money, so there is no risk to you. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get started with your FREE consultation today.
How Improperly Loaded Cargo Leads to Accidents in Roswell
When someone involved with loading and securing truck cargo is negligent, it can lead to all sorts of dangerous issues:
- Improperly loaded cargo can fall off the truck while it’s on the road, leading to serious collisions with other drivers.
- The unsecured cargo can also lead to an unstable truck, which can result in catastrophic accidents and injuries.
- If the cargo is hazardous in any way, it can injure others on the road even if a vehicle-on-vehicle accident doesn’t occur.
The truck driver in this type of accident is rarely injured badly compared to the victims. According to large trucks statistics from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), 96% of vehicle occupants who died in two-vehicle accidents in 2018 (involving a large truck and a passenger vehicle) were passenger vehicle occupants.
Unfortunately, issues with improperly loaded cargo are all-too-common in Roswell and throughout Georgia. A moment of carelessness or oversight with a truck’s cargo can completely change the life of a driver or passenger who was not able to control the situation. That’s why it’s so important to hold the negligent parties responsible.
If you were injured—or a loved one was injured or killed—because of improperly loaded cargo, you are likely entitled to compensation for what you’ve suffered. John Foy & Associates will discuss your legal options with you during a FREE, no-obligation consultation. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online to get started today.
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Types of Improperly Loaded Cargo Accidents
Accidents and injuries related to truck cargo can result from:
- Spilled cargo
- Cargo that is too heavy
- Improperly secured cargo
- Cargo contents that have shifted during transportation
- Fallen cargo that collides with or breaks through the windshield of another vehicle
These are just a few examples, as no two truck accidents are alike. Your lawyer will work to investigate and get to the bottom of how your accident occurred. Fallen cargo can include construction materials, gravel, lumber, furniture, chemicals, scrap metals, and more—any of which can cause serious or deadly injuries.
What to Do If You Were Injured Because of Unsecured Truck Cargo
If you were injured because of improperly loaded or secured cargo in Roswell, you may be able to seek financial recovery through the personal injury claim. This claim will be filed with the at-fault party’s insurance company. This is where things can get complicated.
Insurance companies do not like to pay out much on injury claims, especially when their policyholders are large trucking companies. If the driver or trucking company was ultimately at fault for your injuries, you’ll probably be dealing with the company’s insurer. The insurance company may look for ways to intimidate you, undermine your damages, or get you to say something that could be used against you.
Thankfully, you can begin legally protecting yourself after the accident. Here are some ways you can do that.
Call the Police
Call 911 to report the accident. This will create a record of what occurred. Depending on the details of the situation, you might be the only person who was injured by the improperly loaded cargo. Other times, there might be multiple drivers who were hurt and more than one vehicle involved in a collision.
No matter how the accident happened, if you were hurt, you should call the police to report it.
Get Medical Attention
If you or someone in your vehicle was seriously injured, call for emergency medical attention. Otherwise, see a doctor promptly after leaving the scene. If you can go on the same day as the accident, that is ideal.
If you wait too long to get your injuries checked out, the insurance company will look for ways to use that against you—so don’t wait.
Gather Information at the Scene
It’s important to get information about the truck driver. Hopefully, they pulled over when they noticed their improperly loaded cargo led to an accident. Exchange names, driver’s license numbers, insurance information, and phone numbers with the driver.
In some situations, a truck driver might not even notice that cargo fell off their truck and caused an accident. If you can, try to get as much information as you can about the truck and the driver, such as the license plate number and any identifying information.
If you can, also take pictures of the scene to preserve how everything looked right after the accident. If there were any eyewitnesses to the accident, ask for their names and contact information.
Get a Roswell Lawyer on the Phone
Don’t forget to contact an experienced lawyer as soon as possible. Schedule a consultation with an improperly loaded cargo lawyer who can begin helping you build your case and protect your rights right away.
Liability in an Improperly Loaded Cargo Accident
Cargo that has been improperly loaded is often a result of the truck driver or trucking company being negligent in some way. They might have failed to properly secure the cargo to the vehicle, failed to check that the cargo is properly balanced, overloaded the truck’s trailer, or failed to continue checking the cargo throughout the journey.
Even if the truck driver or the trucking company did not intend to cause an accident, they have still been negligent and are responsible for any damages they’ve caused. If you suffered injuries, medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and other similar losses, you may be entitled to compensation for these damages.
Reach out to a trusted and experienced attorney today to know your options.
Talk to an Experienced Roswell Improperly Loaded Cargo Lawyer at No Cost Today
At John Foy & Associates, we have been helping victims of improperly loaded cargo accidents for over 20 years. Our attorneys fight tirelessly for the rights of injured individuals in Roswell and all throughout Georgia. We also do not charge a fee unless we win you money, so working with us is risk-free to you.
Contact us today and we’ll get you started with a FREE consultation and case evaluation. Call (404) 400-4000 or contact us online today.
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