Fort Collins Lawyers for Unsecured Cargo Truck Accidents

Attorneys in Larimer County Helping Semi Truck Crash Victims Seek Compensation

With Interstate 35 and U.S. Highway 85 running north and south and U.S. Highway 34 running east and west, thousands of large trucks travel through and around Northern Colorado every day. Over-the-road transport is an important element of the American economy, and commercial trucks carry billions of tons of freight per year. In fact, just one standard tractor-trailer can weigh up to 40 tons (80,000 lbs) when it is fully loaded. Considering the amount of weight involved, it is critical for drivers, trucking companies, and loaders to be sure that the cargo is loaded, balanced, and secured properly. Even the smallest failure to do so can lead to instability, shifting cargo, and catastrophic accidents.

At Hoggatt Law Office, P.C., our experienced truck crash lawyers have been serving accident victims for more than 15 years. We have the knowledge and skills to help you and your family recover compensation after a truck accident related to shifting or falling cargo and unsecured loads.

Types of Cargo-Related Accidents

An improperly balanced or unsecured load can cause an accident in a number of ways. For example, cargo that is not secured or covered correctly could break loose and fall to the roadway. If your vehicle were to hit falling cargo at highway speeds, the results could be deadly. Debris on the surface of the road could also cause other vehicles to lose control without the truck driver even being aware of the situation.

Cargo does not need to break loose in order cause problems. A poorly balanced load could make the truck itself almost impossible for the driver to handle. A slight steering adjustment with an improperly balanced load could force the truck to jackknife or rollover, possibly causing serious injuries or death. Likewise, a truck that is overloaded, even on just one axle, could make stopping quickly extremely challenging for the driver.

Trusted Truck Accident Counsel in Greeley and Loveland

A truck driver, in most cases, is responsible for making sure that the truck’s cargo is loaded, balanced, and secured properly, but other parties may also be held responsible in the event of an accident. For example, a crew in a warehouse first loaded the truck, which then went on to make several stops. At each stop along the way, a new crew unloaded some of the cargo and moved other parts of the load around. Each crew could be partially responsible for the state of the cargo in the event of a crash. Finally, if the trucking company does not have safety protocols in place regarding loading and securing cargo—or fails to enforce existing rules—the company could also be liable.

At Hoggatt Law Office, P.C., we understand that determining liability for a cargo-related truck accident can be extremely difficult, but it can be done. When you contact our firm, we will go right to work investigating your accident. We will examine delivery records, driver logs, warehouse schedules, and other data that will allow us to establish what happened and why. From there, our lawyers will work hard to obtain full financial compensation from any party who may have been negligent.

With Us, It’s Personal

If you or a member of your family has been injured in an accident related to shifting cargo or improperly secured truck loads, contact our office. Call 970-225-2190 or 1-800-664-3151 for a free consultation today. We charge no upfront fees, and we answer new client calls 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Our firm serves Larimer County, Weld County, Boulder County, and the surrounding areas.