It is virtually impossible to drive on roadways around Kingsport without seeing dozens of tractor-trailers. After all, I-81 and I-26 are major commercial routes. While you usually pass commercial vehicles without incident, an improperly balanced truck load may put your life in jeopardy.
When you put everyday items into your car, truck or SUV, you probably do not think much about load balance. Because groceries and other items do not weigh much, their placement likely does not affect the way your vehicle handles. The same is not true for the goods that commercial trucks haul. On the contrary, because a loaded tractor-trailer may tip the scales at 80,000 pounds, drivers must either carefully balance loads or risk losing control of their vehicles.
Maneuvering loaded trucks
Even though semitrucks can haul heavy loads, excess weight affects the way a commercial vehicle handles. That is, a full truck may need additional space to stop, turn or change lanes. If the trucker does not balance a load properly, though, the truck may perform unpredictably. For example, the trailer may fishtail even on a straight road. In extreme cases, an imbalanced load may cause a tractor-trailer to tip onto its side.
Avoiding automobile accidents
Commercial truckers must follow strict guidelines when loading their vehicles. If they fail to do so, their negligence may contribute to a serious automobile accident. Obviously, if a driver loses control of his or her semitruck, the truck may smash into your vehicle. Furthermore, an imbalanced load may cause a truck’s brakes or other essential components to fail prematurely. If an inspection does not uncover faulty parts, the semitruck may be a ticking time bomb.
Commercial truckers play a valuable role in modern society. They also have a solemn obligation to ensure that their vehicles do not pose an unreasonable safety risk to the public. If you have sustained an injury because of an improperly balanced load, you likely must act quickly to pursue just compensation from the negligent driver who contributed to the crash.
