How Do Overloaded Trucks Endanger Motorists on Santa Barbara Roads?
Santa Barbara’s scenic mountain roads, with their winding curves and breathtaking views, showcase the beauty of California’s Central Coast. These same roads can be a hazardous gauntlet for motorists to run when navigated by big rigs carrying excessive weight.
Overloading of large commercial trucks significantly contributes to accidents on these treacherous routes, posing a risk for everyone on the road.
When Is a Semi-Tractor-Trailer Considered Overloaded?
According to the National Truck Equipment Association (NTEA), gross vehicle weight rating (GVWR) is the maximum allowable weight for a truck and trailer combination. This number represents the maximum vehicle weight, including body, chassis, auxiliary equipment, and payload. It covers the weight of the truck, the trailer, and the cargo it is carrying. In other words, the weight of the load is included in GVWR.
What Are the Perils of Overloading Trucks?
Improper loading or overloading of a large commercial truck dramatically affects vehicle performance. Overloading affects steering, maneuverability, acceleration, and braking. It can impact a trucker’s ability to safely operate a big rig in any of the following ways:
- Increased braking distance: Overloaded trucks require more distance to stop. Drivers can misjudge stopping distance when a truck is carrying excess weight.
- Impaired maneuverability: Overloading can make it more difficult for truckers to steer and navigate tight corners and sharp turns, increasing the risk of rollovers and collisions.
- Reduced acceleration: The vehicle’s acceleration potential is progressively reduced with increasing overloading.
- Excess speed on downgrades: A large truck traveling on a decline can gain additional speed with excess weight. Combined with decreased maneuverability and increased stopping distances, this causes unsafe conditions for the trucker and the general public.
- Increased risk of tire blowouts: Overloading can result in overinflated tires, which are more susceptible to blowouts. When a truck tire blows out, it can cause the driver to lose control of the vehicle.
- Structural damage: Overloading a truck with excessive weight can strain the frame and suspension, potentially leading to structural failure and catastrophic accidents.
What Is the Toll of Overloaded Trucks on Santa Barbara Roads?
Highway 154, Highway 101, and other Santa Barbara mountain roads are vulnerable to the dangers of overloaded trucks. With steep grades, blind curves, and narrow lanes, they become even more dangerous when large, heavy trucks are involved. Accidents caused by overloaded trucks can result in severe injuries, major property damage, and tragic loss of life. A collision with an 18-wheeler weighing 80,000 lbs. or more is likely to cause severe, catastrophic, or fatal injuries to passenger vehicle occupants.
What Compensation Is Available for Victims of Santa Barbara Overloaded Truck Accidents?
Overloaded commercial trucks pose a significant risk to public safety. The results can be catastrophic when trucking companies prioritize their profits over the safety of others sharing the road. If you or your loved one has been injured in an accident involving an overloaded truck, you may be entitled to substantial compensation for your losses. Damages in a truck accident claim may include past and future medical expenses, lost wages, loss of future earning capacity, property damage, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and other losses. By holding negligent trucking companies accountable, we can seek justice for injured parties and help prevent future truck accidents.
How Do You Prove a Truck Involved in a Collision Was Overloaded?
After a crash with an overloaded truck, our firm can conduct a thorough investigation of the accident and gather evidence to support your claim, which may include the following:
- Reviewing weight tickets and bills of lading to compare the actual weight of the truck to its rated capacity
- Examining photos and videos of the accident scene for signs of overloading, such as bulging tires or a sagging suspension
- Taking testimony from eyewitnesses describing the truck’s diving behavior, such as difficulty maneuvering or braking
- Working with accident reconstruction experts who can analyze crash data to determine if the weight of the truck contributed to the severity of the collision
Can Black Box Data Tell You If a Truck Involved in a Crash Was Overloaded?
While the truck’s black box can provide invaluable information in a truck accident investigation, it will not directly reveal whether the truck was overloaded. However, it can provide critical information that may be circumstantial evidence supporting an argument of overloading, such as the following:
- Delayed braking: If the black box shows that the truck’s brakes were applied later than required for safe operation, it may suggest the driver struggled to slow the heavy vehicle.
- Excessive speed: If the truck was traveling at a high speed on a downhill grade, it may indicate the driver was compensating for reduced braking ability due to excessive weight.
- Erratic steering: Erratic steering inputs revealed by the black box may indicate the driver was having trouble controlling the vehicle because of increased weight and reduced maneuverability.
Do You Need a Lawyer After a Santa Barbara Overloaded Truck Accident?
If you have been injured in a crash caused by an overloaded truck, your best chance of recovering full compensation is to have an experienced personal injury attorney handling your claim. Truck accidents are complex cases involving state and federal regulations and multiple potentially liable parties. Insurance companies have teams of lawyers working to minimize their payouts. Our experienced Santa Barbara truck accident attorney at James McKiernan Lawyers can help level the playing field by investigating the accident, gathering evidence, interviewing witnesses, and consulting with experts to build a strong case; negotiating skillfully with insurance companies on your behalf; and fighting for the maximum compensation in court, if necessary. Contact us for a free consultation at 805-476-4304.
