Chicago Truck Cargo Accident Lawyer

Attorneys For Accidents Caused By Trucks with Improperly Loaded Cargo in Chicagoland Area

Roads and highways throughout the United States are often filled with large commercial trucks. While these vehicles are essential for moving goods throughout the country, they can cause serious injuries in a motor vehicle collision due to their large size and weight. Some of the most dangerous truck accidents occur when a truck's cargo is improperly loaded or secured. Those who are injured in these types of accidents should work with an experienced personal injury attorney to determine their options for recovering compensation.

At Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC, our lawyers provide representation in a wide variety of motor vehicle accident cases, and we have a record of success in obtaining the verdicts and settlements that fully address our clients' damages. We are dedicated to helping injury victims achieve justice, and we work to enhance public safety by ensuring that negligent trucking companies and truck drivers are held responsible for the injuries they have caused.

The Dangers of Improperly Loaded or Secured Cargo

When cargo is loaded onto a tractor-trailer truck, it must be placed and secured in a way that ensures the weight is distributed properly across the truck's axles. If too much weight is put on the front axle, this can impact a truck's steering and braking, while too little weight can reduce traction. In addition, if cargo is not distributed properly or if a truck is overloaded, this can impact a truck's center of gravity, increasing the chances of a rollover accident.

A semi-truck's cargo must be properly secured with devices that have been approved by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Improperly secured cargo can cause a truck's weight to shift during travel, which can cause a driver to lose control of their vehicle. Cargo that falls off a truck can cause serious harm to the drivers and passengers of other vehicles. Heavy cargo may crush a car and injure its occupants, and any items that fall into the roadway are likely to lead to accidents when drivers swerve to avoid hitting it. A single piece of unsecured cargo can lead to a multi-vehicle pileup, resulting in a large number of serious injuries or wrongful deaths.

When injuries occur because of overloaded trucks or improperly loaded cargo, there are a number of parties that may be liable. While drivers are required to regularly inspect their truck's cargo, they may have no control over the way the cargo was loaded and secured, especially if it was sealed and loaded by a separate shipping company. In these cases, the trucking company may be found to be negligent because it did not provide proper oversight for the loading process, or the company that loaded the cargo onto the truck may be found liable. In addition, a manufacturer may be held liable for damages caused by the failure of equipment used to secure loads.

Contact a Cook County Truck Accident Attorney

The attorneys of TKK understand the complex factors that are often involved in semi-truck accidents, and we know how to gather the evidence needed to identify the liable party or parties and demonstrate that their negligence caused the collision. If you have been injured in a truck crash, we can help you recover full and fair compensation for the damages you have suffered, ensuring that you will have the financial resources you need as you make a recovery. Contact our office at Tomasik Kotin Kasserman, LLC to arrange a free consultation.