Flatbed Truck Accident Lawyer in West Houston
Unbalanced Load Cause of Wreck
Flatbed truck accidents are one of the most intense accidents to be in. They are also some of the most complicated legal battles you could face if you don’t have a well-versed lawyer. Our flatbed truck accident lawyers in West Houston are experts and will get you your compensation.
What are Flatbed Trucks?
Flatbed trucks are those that are either articulated or rigid. Their bodywork is entirely flat, meaning goods can be loaded quickly and easily. Flatbeds are used to transport heavy, non-delicate loads. They’re also used for abnormal shape loads and can’t be loaded into a normally closed body.
Flatbeds are easy to load, but not many people are experts at loading them securely. Since there’s no roof and no sides, accidents can happen where the flatbed is unbalanced, and goods fly off or become unsecured from the flatbed. This can result in severe big truck accidents.
Frequent Vehicle Crashes Caused by Flatbeds
There are many causes of flatbed truck accidents. Most flatbed trucks have limited transportation route options, so they must travel on busy multi-lane highways. They often use two or more traffic lanes, resulting in traffic backups or commercial truck accidents. Here are some common causes as stated by a semi-truck injury lawyer in West Houston.
Oversize Load
According to Joe Stephens, a top-rated West Houston auto collision lawyer, oversize loads are those that exceed legal width and weight limitations. Ordinarily, safety regulations like signage/warning signals and a pilot vehicle would be required. Sometimes, this gets expensive, so trucking companies may cut corners. This might be by lying about cargo weight or forcing drivers to drive without pilot vehicles. These cut corners cause danger to vehicles around the flatbed truck and cause a truck wreck.
Overloading
Unlike closed trucks, flatbed trucks are not limited by vertical space. It’s common for flatbed trucks to be overloaded. Most of the time, the truck is overloaded on one side, which makes the center of gravity prone to overturning the big rig. Overturned flatbeds may spill cargo on the roadway, leading to accidents involving passenger vehicles.
Rear-End Crashes
Like any commercial truck, 18-wheeler, or big rig, it’s difficult to stop a truck on a dime. Most flatbed trucks have expensive, difficult-to-maintain air brake systems to make it possible for them to stop. Brake problems are one of the most common causes of big truck accidents.
Driver Negligence
Other than vehicle issues, the driver may be the cause of the accident:
- Fatigue
- Speeding
- Not knowing where they’re going
- Distraction
- Drug or alcohol use
- Illness
- Inexperience
If loaded or driven improperly, flatbed trucks are a risk to everyone on the road. This is why if you’re in an accident involving a flatbed commercial truck or 18-wheeler that involves death, you need a negligent death lawyer in West Houston who will stop at nothing to find out what happened.
Call an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyers in West Houston
There are many reasons why big truck accidents occur. Our flatbed truck accident lawyers in West Houston will take the time to understand how the accident occurred and find out who is at fault. Then, we will get you the compensation you deserve. Contact our West Houston law firm today!
West Houston Flatbed Truck Accident Attorney
Trucking Industry & Truck Driver Resources