Overweight Truck Accident Attorneys in Louisiana

Louisiana roads see a lot of traffic, even without the ever-increasing amount of big rigs, semis, and 18-wheelers crisscrossing our state delivering the goods we all use. This heavy traffic comes at a cost, however, with an increased likelihood of getting into an accident with one of these large trucks. If that massive vehicle is overloaded, the already-dire consequences are only made worse.

Commercial delivery trucks are intensely regulated, and though there are laws in place limiting the size and weight of loads these vehicles are legally allowed to carry, some shipping companies try to get around them, and regularly overload their trucks. Injuries that can be sustained in vehicle accidents with such an enormous truck are often very severe.

If you or a loved one have been the victim of an overweight truck accident anywhere in Louisiana, Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys want you to know you are not alone. We have extensive experience with many types of truck wreck cases, including those due to overloading. Contact us today and we will review the details of your accident and give you a free consultation on how we can help.

What Qualifies as an Overweight Truck?

Officially classified as heavy-duty, or class 8, trucks by the Federal Highway Administration, most 18-wheelers you will see on the highway have a Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR) of more than 33,000 lbs. This includes the weight of the cargo, fuel, passengers, and the truck itself. The maximum GVWR allowed by federal regulation is 80,000 pounds, or more than 40 tons!

That amount of weight hurtling down the road is dangerous as it is, but if additional cargo makes the semi even heavier, serious accidents can be the result. Weigh stations along interstates and us highways seek to catch any overloaded trucks, and regularly issue thousands of tickets and stop vehicle operations every year for weight violations.

Why is an Overweight Truck So Dangerous?

All tractor-trailers come with inherent risks, due to their size and the forces they experience during normal operation. When weight limits are exceeded, these risks are magnified greatly, and accidents are more likely to happen. Some of the reasons overweight trucks are more likely to cause accidents include:

• Slower acceleration/ deceleration. It takes more energy and more time to change the speed of a vehicle the heavier it gets. 

• Reduced manueverability. Like speed, it is harder to change the direction of an overloaded truck than it is one that is within weight limits.

• Equipment malfunctions. Heavy-duty trucks are designed to hold up and operate normally under huge weight, but everything has limits. Overloading a truck puts stress on parts that they are not designed to withstand, and when they fail, accidents can be the result.

• Improper load/ lost load. Every cargo load must be secured to the vehicle for transport, but a load that is too large for the truck can make this difficult to do properly. Overweight cargo tends to be improperly loaded cargo, and if some or all of it comes loose, or the truck loses balance, it can become extremely dangerous to nearby motorists.

• Infrastructure damage. Large amounts of cargo can take up a lot of volume, and this can change the overall dimensions of the truck/ cargo unit. A low bridge or narrow tunnel is all it takes to cause a collision, a lost load, or worse.

The ways in which these truck wrecks occur are varied, and each case will be different. That’s why victims should seek the services of an experienced overweight truck accident lawyer, like the ones at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys.

Types of Injuries Caused by Overweight Truck Accidents

Having dealt with many large truck collision cases across Louisiana, Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys has seen the tragic consequences of overloaded truck accidents, and the toll they can take on victims and their families. Some of the common and life-changing injuries that come from these crashes include

• Head injuries, including Traumatic Brain Injury
• Neck Injuries
• Spinal cord injuries
• Broken bones
• Bleeding, both internal and external
• Amputation
• Pain and suffering
• Other Catastrophic Injury
• Death

If you have been the victim of any of these, or a different injury that was the direct result of an accident with a big rig or semi-truck, we can help. Our truck accident attorneys will put their experience to work to get you the compensation you need to heal.

Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys are the Louisiana Big Truck Lawyers.

After an accident with a large commercial truck, you can be left feeling hurt, frightened, and confused. Your injuries may be extreme, and it is unusual for the average person to know what to do next. That’s why it is important to call someone who has seen this type of situation before. You need to call someone like the overweight truck accident lawyers at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys. 

Our law firm has dealt with irresponsible truck drivers, the companies that allow cargo to be over-loaded and transported, and the Louisiana legal system that should hold them responsible. We know all the tricks these companies and their insurers use to keep innocent victims of personal injury from getting the restitution they deserve. We’ve been able to help recover over $3 Billion for our clients, and we’ll be here to help you, too.

Call us toll-free at 888.501.7888, or contact one of our offices in Alexandria, Baton Rouge, Denham Springs, Hammond, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, Shreveport, and Zachary, and our dedicated team of overweight truck accident attorneys will get to work evaluating your case. Don’t try and take on a reckless trucking company alone.  Get Louisiana’s big truck lawyers, and get it done!