Earlier this month in Everett, Washington, an 86-foot beam fell off the back of a semi-truck as the truck was making a left turn. According to a report by one local news source, the 55-ton beam fell off the truck on a Thursday afternoon around 4:30 in the afternoon and remained on the road for approximately nine hours until emergency crews were able to remove it.
Evidently, the truck driver was almost to his destination when he made a left turn and the beam fell off the back of the semi-truck. There is no indication as to how the beam was secured on the truck, or how it came off the back of the truck. Luckily, no one was hurt when the beam fell off the truck.
Police are currently investigating the cause of the accident. Thus far into the investigation, they do not believe that drugs or alcohol were involved.
Semi-Truck Load Requirements
As you can see from the article above, not only can a semi-truck itself be a danger out on the highway, but the load it carries also can cause massive destruction. That is why the state and federal governments have enacted restrictions on semi-truck loads.
Depending on the type of load, there is likely a restriction in place governing its transport. For example, if a trucker is carrying hazardous material, the driver must take extra precautions when driving. These precautions include not letting the rig get out of his sight for more time than is necessary, not smoking around the rig, and marking the load appropriately.
If the load is a heavy one, it is regulated by GVW (gross vehicle weight) restrictions. Each truck, depending on its size, is permitted to carry only a certain weight of cargo. A truck’s total weight is referred to as its GVW. If a truck driver overloads his rig, he can be cited for exceeding the truck’s GVW.
Other cases involving accidents caused by spilled loads happen when the loads are not properly secured. This is not necessarily a problem with the load itself, but with the negligent manner in which the cargo was loaded onto the truck. For example, if heavy cargo is loaded all on one side, or all at the front or the back of the rig, it may be unstable.
Regardless of how a spilled-load occurs, chances are that it was preventable had the truck driver or trucking company taken adequate precautions.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one has recently been involved in any kind of Maryland truck accident, you can be entitled to monetary damages. In many cases involving a spilled load, the truck driver was negligent in securing the load, or the truck was overloaded. When this negligence causes an accident, anyone harmed by that accident may be able to recover financially for their injuries and property damage. To learn more, contact a dedicated Maryland truck accident attorney at 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation.
More Blog Posts:
Truck Driver’s Negligent Driving Causes Serious Accident in Hagerstown, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published September 2, 2014.
Williamsport Bicyclist Injured When Hit By Dump Truck, Maryland Trucking Accident Lawyer Blog, published October 10, 2014.