Why Unsecured Cargo is One of the Leading Causes Behind Truck Accident Lawsuits

A truck carrying heavy cargo is always a potential cause for concern, but the risks can be mitigated by following a set of mandatory rules. Properly securing the cargo is one of them of course and any lapse here could lead to disastrous truck accidents and consequent lawsuits. Unfortunately, crash reports show that neglect in cargo securing is one of the leading causes for truck accident lawsuits, despite these facts being common knowledge by now.

Why are Truck Accidents Resulting from Unsecured Cargo So Common?

Trucking accidents resulting from unsecured cargo should not happen as often as they do, because none of the parties involved directly or indirectly in the accident have anything to gain by neglecting the rules. Nevertheless, they do still happen and if you are unfortunate enough to be victimized by such neglect, don’t think twice about contacting a truck accident lawyer who specializes in unsecured cargo truck accidents. As for the reasons which lead to such neglect, the following few have been found to be responsible for most of the truck accidents that occur because of poorly secured cargo.

Not Following Protocols

Not every trucking company is as diligent with their cargo safety protocols as they should be. For example, trucking companies are known to create direct or indirect pressure on the delivery chain to maintain strict deadlines, without any regard to the circumstances (traffic, weather, roadblocks, accidents, worker availability, etc.). As a result, they end up creating a rush which may not always allow the workers responsible at pickup sites to load and fasten the cargo with the necessary diligence to ensure safety.

The worst part is that unsecured cargo related truck accidents seldom happen when someone decides to slack on the proper securing methods for the first time. This often leads them into believing and even preaching that all the safety precautions are not necessary, making the situation much worse than it ever needed to be. What was once an exception, soon becomes a regularity unless things literally come crashing down. Truck drivers must be more vigilant about setting off with poorly secured cargo, despite what anyone may suggest. Lives are at stake here, including that of the truck driver.

Rushing

Driving a truck full of cargo is not easy. It requires adequate training, experience, knowledge and patience to drive, maneuver and park a semi that weighs 35,000lbs without cargo, and up to 80,000lbs when full. When a truck driver is made to feel that they are going to lose money or their job on account of being late, they will almost inevitably speed up and try to reach their destinations faster than they should with a full cargo. As one may imagine, this can and often does lead to:

• Crashes after the cargo’s momentum throws the truck off-balance
• Even properly secured cargo will often come loose and spill or fall after a crash
• The driver hitting a bumper or pothole at high speed which unleashes the cargo due to its weight getting displaced.

No truck driver should rush when their truck is carrying so much load and there are very specific rules to driving, stopping, maneuvering and parking these extremely heavy vehicles safely. Failing to do so will put everyone on the road at risk, as well as themselves.