New Mexico Truck Accidents Caused by Improper Cargo Loading

Truck drivers, shippers, and other warehouse employees load and unload trucks on a daily basis. Unfortunately, when the loading of goods on a semi truck isn't done right, it can lead to fatalities on the road. Truck drivers in New Mexico and elsewhere have a responsibility to themselves, their company, and other motorists to check their loads periodically and make sure those loads are properly secured.

If the freight is not secured or properly loaded accidents may occur. When cargo shifts within the bed of the truck, it tends to move forward due to momentum. This is a dangerous situation that can cause a semi truck to overturn or jack-knife because the load wasn't properly secured and balanced.

Trucking companies and truck drivers have to comply with state and federal regulations regarding the loading of the truck, the weight of the truck, and the balance of the load. Adherence to these rules is extremely important because a truck's steering and braking can be affected by improper loading. Also, the improperly loaded freight can spill onto the roadways causing other vehicles to crash.

A large semi truck can weigh up to 80,000 pounds, and adding additional cargo or goods that are not tied down properly can cause a weight shift, which forces the truck to swing sideways causing the driver to lose control. This in turn can cause items to fall off the truck and onto the roadways, hitting other passenger vehicles. Several truck crashes in New Mexico have occurred due to improperly loaded trucks due to:

• Debris hitting cars due to improperly secured tarps
• Construction materials and pipes falling onto the roadway
• Chemical spills
• Overloaded cargo
• Load shift

If an improperly loaded truck causes a truck accident in New Mexico, serious injuries or death could occur due to the size and weight of the truck alone. Other motorists often sustain catastrophic injuries from truck crashes, including broken bones, spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and paralysis.

If serious injuries or death result from a New Mexico truck accident, truck drivers and their companies have a legal responsibility under the Federal Motor Carrier Safety regulation, and may be held liable. Truck drivers are supposed to check their cargo often to make sure their freight is secured properly. If this is not done, the truck driver may be guilty of negligence and the truck company may be liable for not providing proper training to their truck drivers. Speak directly with a knowledgeable New Mexico accident attorney regarding your case. Call the law firm of Keller & Keller today at (505) 938-2300 for a free legal evaluation.

We represent injured victims in the cities of Albuquerque, South Valley, Rio Rancho, Corrales, Bernalillo, Placitas, Tijeras, Los Lunas, Edgewood, Moriarty, Santa Fe, Los Cruces, Roswell, Silver City, Alamagordo, and in the counties of Bernalillo County, Sandoval County, Valencia County, Santa Fe County, Dona Ana County, and Torrance County and throughout New Mexico.

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