Accidents Caused by Owners and Drivers of Flatbed Trucks

Flatbed Truck Accidents

Flatbed Truck Accident Causes

Flatbed trucks are popular since they can easily transport items such as logs, huge pipes, manufactured homes, wind turbine propellers, and heavy machinery. While these trucks carry cargo, they don’t have walls or sides to safely hold it in place. If the truck’s cargo isn’t secured properly, it may shift forward or laterally, making the truck unstable and causing the driver to lose control. This can lead to a jackknife or rollover accident. Loose cargo may also slide directly into another vehicle or fall onto the roadway, striking or obstructing multiple vehicles.

Flatbed truck accidents may also occur when:

• An operator is inexperienced.
• A truck driver is operating the vehicle under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
• The trucking company fails to properly screen drivers prior to hiring them.
• The driver or trucking company fails to perform routine maintenance checks.

When a flatbed truck collides with a passenger vehicle, the car is likely to bear the brunt of the damage. Due to the extreme differences in vehicle height, a passenger car often ends up beneath the bed of the trailer.

Protecting Your Recovery

If you’ve been injured in a flatbed truck accident, or your loved one died as a result of such a collision, you need an experienced attorney to help you receive the compensation you deserve.

Flatbed truck operators must secure their cargo in accordance with state and federal regulations, conduct periodic safety checks, and abide by the rules of the road. Your attorney may be able to prove the truck driver or the company he works for breached duty of care by failing to fulfill all of these responsibilities.

To learn more about what the law offices of Steve M. Lee, P.C., can do for you, visit us on Facebook.