Cargo Securement Failures in Kentucky Truck Accidents

Trucking companies have a responsibility for keeping everyone on the road with them safe. When they fail, serious injuries in multi-vehicle crashes are common. That includes ensuring cargo is secure.

Consider what happens when cargo securement failures in Kentucky truck accidents occur, and what this means for victims of accidents caused by them. In these cases, working with an experienced Lexington truck accident lawyer can make all the difference.

Cargo Securement Rules

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has established regulations to govern trucking companies and their drivers. This includes the cargo securement rules, a set of regulations that ensure cargo remains secure during transit and does not shift or fall out of the vehicle.

These rules include best practices for securing cargo, balancing it, and the types of devices that can be used for this purpose. There are weight restrictions on freight, and necessary steps drivers must take before they hit the road to ensure their cargo does not cause an accident.

How Cargo Displacement Causes Accidents

When cargo shifts, is not balanced, or falls off the truck, it can create unsafe conditions for drivers as well as others on the road. This includes shifts that cause the driver to lose control, leading to jackknifing or rollovers.

If a truck is heading downhill, for example, and the cargo on board shifts even slightly, that changes the weight distribution, making it hard for the tractor to keep up with the movement of the trailer, causing jackknifing to happen.

Cargo that spills out onto the road creates an instant hazard for anyone on the roadway. The debris may strike those who are close or may not have time to avoid it. As that cargo sits on the roadway, it creates a risk that anyone else could strike it as well.

What Your Rights Are After a Cargo Securement Failure

With the technology and tools available today, cargo security failures simply should not happen. If they do and you suffer injuries and financial losses as a result, it is crucial to take legal action.

As with most truck accidents, filing a claim is not simple, but a truck accident lawyer in Kentucky can help you.

Your attorney will:

• Investigate logs that document the weight and cargo securement that the truck had or failed to have prior to leaving its location.
• Gather black box data that may show why the accident happened.
• Work with accident reconstruction services and witnesses to determine all parties at fault.
• Document all of the injuries and losses you have from this accident, including immediate losses and those in the coming months.
• Seek fair compensation and negotiate a settlement for you, or seek legal action by filing a lawsuit.

In cargo securement failures in Kentucky, multiple parties may be responsible for the accident. In those situations, your attorney will seek legal action against all parties, with the goal of holding anyone who hurt you accountable.

Schedule a Free Consultation with a Truck Accident Lawyer in Kentucky

At Gary C. Johnson P.S.C., we fight for victims. Contact us to schedule a free consultation to discuss your truck accident with us.

If you suspect cargo securement failures were a contributing factor in the truck accident, we will investigate and build your claim against all parties at fault. With over $500 million in client settlements recovered over our long careers, we are here to help you.