How Overloaded Trucks Increase Atlanta Truck Accident Risks
As a major hub for the Southeast, thousands of commercial trucks pass through the Atlanta area every day. They play an important role in the local economy, but can pose risks to motorists, particularly when a truck is overloaded.
Overloading can increase productivity, but it also increases crash risks, putting other road users at risk. Our Atlanta truck accident lawyers explain more about the dangers overloaded trucks pose and your rights as a motorist in seeking compensation for injuries.
How Overloaded Rigs Increase The Risks of Atlanta Truck Accidents
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) establishes weight limits for commercial trucks for a reason: exceeding them compromises safety, endangering the truck driver and other road users.
Trucks that are overloaded are more difficult to control, especially at high speeds or on Atlanta’s curving interstates like I-285 and I-20. Common issues that result include:
- Longer stopping distances: A fully loaded truck significantly longer to stop than a motor vehicle. Overloading increases that distance and the likelihood of collisions.
- Increased rollover risk: Extra weight raises the truck’s center of gravity. Rollovers can happen if the rig is imbalanced or shifts during transport.
- Tire blowouts: This is a common cause of truck accidents in Atlanta, particularly during summer when pavement temperatures increase blowout risks.
- Structural damage: Roads and bridges aren’t built to support vehicles that significantly exceed weight limits, potentially causing pavement collapse or other structural failures.
- Cargo spills: Extra or unstable cargo increases the chance of dangerous spills that can block highways and lead to multi-vehicle pileups.
These risks are compounded in high-traffic areas like the Downtown Connector and the I-75/I-85 interchange, where even minor truck mishaps can turn into multi-vehicle crashes.
When Overloading Is Responsible For Atlanta Truck Accident Injuries: Who Is Liable?
The Georgia Department of Public Safety takes a hard stance when it comes to commercial vehicle enforcement. While truck drivers are responsible for safe operation, others share liability for overloaded truck accidents in Atlanta. Among the leading causes:
- Negligent loading, in which warehouses or third-party loaders may overload or unevenly distribute cargo;
- Pressure from employers, who prioritize tight delivery deadlines over safety;
- Lack of oversight and failure to inspect loads or verify weight limits before departure;
- Skipping weigh stations or falsifying weight documentation, which is illegal but not uncommon in a rush to move goods.
To determine liability in these cases, our Atlanta truck accident lawyers thoroughly investigate and review trucking logs, weigh station records, and black box data.
Contact Our Experienced Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyers Today
Overloaded rigs put motorists at risk and are a common cause of truck accidents in Atlanta. Shiver Hamilton, LLC. determines liability and helps you get the compensation you are entitled to.
We protect the rights of clients in Atlanta, Alpharetta, Decatur, Johns Creek, Jonesboro, Marietta, Roswell, Sandy Springs, Savannah, St. Simons Island, and all of DeKalb, Fulton, and Gwinnett County. Contact our Atlanta truck accident lawyers today to schedule a consultation.
Sources:
fmcsa.dot.gov/international-programs/canada/weights-and-dimensions
dps.georgia.gov/divisions/motor-carrier-compliance-division
