When cargo falls from a commercial truck or shifts during transport, the results are catastrophic. Unsecured loads, improperly tied-down equipment, and overloaded trailers turn highways into danger zones. If you’ve been injured in a crash caused by a truck’s cargo, understanding who’s responsible and what evidence to preserve is essential to protecting your rights.

How Cargo Causes Accidents

Cargo-related truck accidents happen in several predictable ways:

• Unsecured items fall onto the road, forcing drivers to swerve or striking vehicles directly.
• Overloaded trailers make trucks unstable, causing rollovers and jackknife accidents.
• Improperly balanced loads shift during turns or braking, causing drivers to lose control.
• Protruding cargo strikes other vehicles when trucks change lanes or navigate tight spaces.

Federal regulations strictly govern how cargo must be secured, but violations are common. Trucking companies rush loading procedures to meet tight schedules. Drivers skip required inspections. Loading dock workers use inadequate tie-downs or improper securing methods. The pressure to move freight quickly overrides safety protocols.

Multiple Parties May Be Liable

Cargo-related crashes often involve complex liability because multiple parties share responsibility for proper loading and securing:

• Trucking companies are responsible for ensuring their drivers follow cargo securement regulations and conduct required inspections. When they fail to train drivers properly or pressure them to skip safety checks, they’re liable.
• Loading companies and warehouse operators who load the cargo have a duty to secure it properly according to federal standards. Improper weight distribution, inadequate tie-downs, or failure to use appropriate securing equipment makes them liable for resulting crashes.
• Truck drivers must inspect cargo securement before departure and at required intervals during transport. When they ignore loose straps, shifting loads, or obvious hazards, they’re negligent.
• Cargo owners can be liable when they provide false information about weight, require improper loading methods, or insist on transporting cargo in unsafe ways.

Critical Evidence in Cargo Cases

Proving a cargo-related crash requires specific evidence:

• Photographs of the accident scene showing scattered cargo, damaged tie-downs, or the truck’s condition are essential.
• Federal inspection reports and cargo securement logs reveal whether required checks were performed.
• Weight station records show if the truck was overloaded.
• The truck’s electronic logging device indicates whether the driver stopped for required inspections.
• Witness statements from other motorists who saw cargo falling or the truck behaving erratically establish the sequence of events.

This evidence disappears quickly. Trucking companies repair or dispose of vehicles rapidly. Cargo gets cleared from roadways. Electronic data gets overwritten.

Act Quickly to Protect Your Claim

Cargo-related truck accidents require immediate investigation before evidence vanishes. The Law Offices of Tim Misny can help you with your truck accident claim. When you’ve been injured by improperly secured cargo, I’ll Make Them Pay!^® Call my office at (877) 614-9524 so that I can evaluate your case right away.