Bensenville Falling Cargo Truck Accident Lawyers

Attorneys for Clients Hurt in Crashes Caused by Unsecured Loads or Road Debris in Elk Grove Village and Park Ridge

Anyone who drives on the streets and highways of Northern Illinois understands that they will almost always be sharing the road with commercial trucks. Whether you call them semis, tractor-trailers, 18-wheelers, or big rigs, these trucks represent a crucial component of our nation's economy, as they transport billions of tons of freight across millions of miles of roadway each year. The average commercial tractor-trailer rig can weigh 40 tons when fully loaded, and with so much weight being carried, it is critical for truck drivers and transport companies to ensure that each truck's cargo is loaded, balanced, and secured properly. Improperly secured cargo can lead to lost loads and falling cargo, not to mention steering and stability issues for the truck itself.

At Kaiser Law, our skilled personal injury lawyers have been serving the needs of truck accident victims throughout the region since 1990. With more than 100 years of combined experience, we know how devastating accidents caused by falling or shifting cargo can be, and we are fully equipped to help you recover maximum compensation for the injuries you have suffered.

Falling Cargo Can Be Deadly

When a truck's load is not properly loaded, secured, or covered, it is possible for the load to work its way loose due to the vibrations of the road. Cargo can dislodge and fall to the roadway, either piece by piece or all at once, depending on the situation. A trail of debris created by falling cargo can create serious problems for other drivers who are following behind the truck, as they must steer carefully around the dropped cargo. In the most extreme cases, falling cargo could actually strike nearby vehicles before hitting the roadway. With certain types of cargo, the damage caused could easily be deadly.

It is important to keep in mind that an improperly secured load can cause accidents even if it remains on the truck. For example, a load that was not tied down securely could shift during transport, making the truck almost impossible for the driver to handle safely. An overcorrection on the steering wheel with unbalanced or shifted cargo could cause the truck to overturn or jackknife, possibly causing serious injuries to the occupants of other vehicles. Likewise, a truck that has been overloaded—including just one overloaded axle—can make braking and stopping much harder for the driver.

Liability for Falling Cargo in Illinois

In most cases, a commercial truck driver is ultimately responsible for making sure that his or her truck's load is balanced and secured properly. However, there may be additional parties who could share liability for accidents caused by falling or shifting cargo. The crew in a shipping warehouse, for example, might be responsible for loading a truck, and the truck could have a number of stops on its route. At each stop, a new crew of warehouse workers could unload some of the cargo, which could affect the load's balance and stability. Finally, if the truck owner or the trucking company does not enforce protocols for securing cargo, they could also incur some responsibility.

It is often difficult to figure out all of the parties who may have contributed to a crash caused by falling cargo or shifting loads. When you work with Kaiser Law, we will fully investigate your accident and the circumstances that led to it. Our attorneys will examine driver logs, delivery records, and any other evidence that will help us determine what happened and why. From there, we will do everything we can to hold the responsible parties accountable for your injuries.

We Are Here to Help

For more information about our firm and our approach to crashes caused by cargo falling onto the roadway, contact our office in Bensenville, IL. Call 630-274-4400 to schedule a free consultation with a member of our experienced team today. We serve clients in Cook County, DuPage County, and throughout the surrounding areas.