Overloaded Truck Accidents

According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), a large truck weighs more than 10,000 pounds and may either be a single-unit vehicle or a combination vehicle of a single-unit pulling one or more trailers. Although any truck weighing more than 10,000 pounds may be categorized as a large truck, most large trucks on the road tend to weigh much more than that. A large truck’s size and weight limitations are governed by both federal and state laws as there are both interstate and intrastate highway systems in Georgia.

The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) limits commercial trucks to a gross vehicle weight of 80,000 pounds on the interstate highway system. However, the gross vehicle weight is not the only limit. The weight distribution over the axles and wheels are also specified to prevent overloading and improper loading, which can cause the truck and trailer to rollover. Additional interstate size restrictions include a width of 102 inches and a maximum length of 780 inches (65 feet) or 900 inches (75 feet) as determined by the trailer connection. Although there is no federally imposed height restriction, most large trucks follow the 13.6 or 14.6 foot standard.

Georgia truck size and weight limitations generally coincide with the federal regulations. In Georgia, however, a large truck with a width of 102 inches may only travel on roads with 12 foot travel lanes. The standard trailer length in Georgia is 636 inches (53 feet) and the maximum vehicle length, if including an extendable trailer, may not exceed 100 feet. Absolutely no overhang is allowed beyond 65 feet. There are also state routes with designated semi truck length restrictions.

Big rigs and other large trucks have weight and size restrictions to ensure the safety of other motorists on the road, not to mention the truck driver and cargo. If you have been injured in a Georgia overloaded truck accident caused by a truck driver or trucking company negligence, contact the experienced overloaded truck accident attorneys in Atlanta at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. at 404-995-3955 for a consultation. We may be able to help.

Georgia large truck accidents can be devastating, but even more so when a truck’s weight exceeds legal limits. Overloaded and overweight tractor trailers are a danger to all other motorists on the road. When a truck is burdened with more weight than it can safely carry, common actions, such as turning, changing lanes, and braking, can be adversely affected. Furthermore, increased weight increases the force of any accident, making an overloaded truck accident especially destructive. Overloading a semi-truck, big rig, tractor-trailer, or 18-wheeler is common practice for trucking companies attempting to make extra profit, though it is both dangerous and illegal.

To prevent overloading, the Federal Highway Administration’s (FHWA) Freight Management and Operations department has established weight limits that apply to all commercial vehicles traveling on the Interstate Highway System. Intrastate trucks may have other weight restrictions as those are determined by the state, though most state trucking regulations coincide with federal ones. The legal weight limit of a commercial truck is 80,000 pounds, with a maximum of 20,000 pounds on a single axle. The distribution of weight, on axles and wheels, is just as important as the total weight of the truck.

Commercial truck weight limits, and speed limits, are established so that a truck driver can transport his or her cargo safely. Overloading a truck defeats the purpose of these limits and affects the truck’s and the driver’s performance, which, in turn, threatens the safety of every other motorist on the road. An overloaded truck accident may result from a number of situations, including:

• Brake failure;
• Out of control downhill speeds;
• Tire blowouts;
• Bridge or overpass collapse;
• Longer stopping distance; and
• Rollovers, due to higher center of gravity.

If you or a loved one has been injured in a Georgia large truck accident as the result of an overloaded big rig, the skilled Atlanta overloaded truck accident lawyers at The Law Offices of Wayne Grant, P.C. can help you pursue compensation for your injuries. Truck drivers, trucking companies and/or truck loading companies can be held liable for medical costs, lost wages, and pain and suffering. To learn more about your legal rights and options, call us today at 866-249-5513 or 404-995-3955.