After Getting Hit By Overloaded Truck What To Do?

When you ride down the roadways in and around Philadelphia, particularly the highways, you probably pass large trucks like eighteen-wheelers all the time. These trucks are generally safe on the roadways, but there are times when truck drivers and truck companies overload the vehicles to make extra profit. If you need a Philadelphia truck accident attorney, the team at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. is ready to get to work on securing the compensation you are entitled to.

How much weight can a truck carry?

There are various types of commercial trucks on the roadways in and around Philadelphia. While most people realize that these trucks have certain weight restrictions, we know that truck drivers and companies regularly violate laws and regulations. By overloading a truck, drivers and companies can seek to earn extra profit from each trip. However, an overloaded truck is one of the most dangerous hazards on the roadway.

Truck weight requirements in Pennsylvania vary depending on the type of vehicle and how many axles the truck has. Trucks on Pennsylvania roadways can weigh as much as 80,000 pounds if they have a five or more axle combination design. Trucks with fewer axles have lower weight maximums.

An overloaded commercial truck presents many risks on the roadway because of the following:

• Stressed tires and brakes: Having too much weight on a truck will wear down the tires and brakes much faster than they normally would. In emergency situations, truck drivers are not as easily able to control an overloaded vehicle.
• Less control in bad weather: When driving on wet roadways or in icy and snowy weather, an overloaded truck will not have much control. A truck that is too heavy can easily spin out and cause collisions with other vehicles.
• Rollover accidents: An overloaded truck has a much higher risk of rolling over and causing major collisions and injuries.
• Jackknifing: This can occur when a trailer swings from behind the truck and moves forward. Jackknifing can lead to rollovers as well as situations where drivers have little control over the truck.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) states that there were approximately 148,000 injuries and over 4,700 fatalities due to large truck accidents during the latest reporting year across the country.

We will help secure the compensation you deserve

If you or somebody you love has been injured in an accident with a large truck that was caused by the truck being overloaded, seeks legal assistance today. The knowledgeable and experienced attorneys at Soloff & Zervanos, P.C. understand these cases and want to hold negligent truck drivers and companies responsible for their actions. You may be entitled to the following:

• Your medical expenses related to the truck crash
• Lost wages if you cannot work while you recover
• Pain and suffering damages
• Loss of personal enjoyment damages
• Possible punitive damages against the truck driver or company

When you need a Philadelphia truck accident attorney, you can contact us for a free consultation by clicking here or calling us at 866-597-8572.