Some of the most gruesome road accidents occur when shifting loads fall off of commercial delivery trucks and crash into the roadway or hit other cars, pedestrians, or cyclists. Entire families can be killed and lives changed forever in a split second when truck accidents like this occur. Because the consequences of falling truck cargo can be so disastrous, there are strict federal regulations around loading trucks. Depending on the cause of the accident, the trucking company, the driver, or the company that loaded the truck may be held responsible. 

Who is Responsible for Falling Cargo Truck Accidents? 

In an effort to reduce shifting or falling cargo, federal regulations have been put into place that dictate how trucks may be loaded. Different loads require different ways of securing the material and trucking or shipping companies are responsible for making sure employees know how to secure cargo properly. Drivers are also responsible for making pre-trip inspections to make sure everything is loaded correctly and that the truck is fit to drive safely. 

Because there are potentially three parties involved in contributing to a trucking accident - the trucking company, the shipping company, and the driver - the nature of the crash may allow all three to be held responsible. All three parties should have comprehensive insurance coverage, and it is from this insurance that victims typically get their compensation. 

Tractor-trailer trucks and other commercial vehicles are much larger and heavier than passenger cars and trucks. This means that when truck accidents occur, people in other vehicles are much more likely to be seriously injured. There are many potential causes of semi-truck accidents, and one issue that is often overlooked is the danger of cargo that is not properly secured on a truck. Following a cargo-related truck accident, multiple parties may be liable for the injuries suffered by the victims.

Liability for Cargo-Related Truck Accidents

When cargo is loaded on a truck, it should be properly distributed in the truck’s bed or trailer, and it should be tied down or secured to ensure that it does not shift during transit. There are multiple ways in which cargo that was not loaded properly can lead to truck accidents, including:

• Cargo that is not distributed correctly may cause a truck to become unbalanced. With too much weight on one side or near the front or back of a trailer, a truck driver may lose control when going around curves, and this could potentially lead to a rollover accident. Improperly distributed cargo can also affect the traction of a truck, making it more difficult for a driver to slow down properly.

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Commercial truckers have become a key component of the U.S. economy. While online shopping has been a popular phenomenon for the past decade, the pandemic made the e-commerce industry skyrocket from a convenience to a necessity for many Americans. In order for companies to meet their shipping promises to consumers, truckers work day and night, not to mention the thousands of truckers who transport cargo from one business to another. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) recognizes the pressure that these constant demands can have on commercial trucking companies and their employees and have put strict regulations in place when it comes to how many hours truckers can spend on the wheel. Despite these additional measures, some truckers continue to drive past the point of exhaustion, placing themselves and other drivers at risk.

Looking at the Statistics

Drowsy driving is a real risk that many drivers--both commercial truckers and everyday drivers--brush to the side. According to statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), drowsy driving claimed 795 lives in 2017 and caused 4,111 fatalities between 2013 and 2017. In 2017 alone, approximately 91,000 car accidents involving drowsy driving occurred. Studies have been done on the causes of commercial motor vehicle accidents, and the Large Truck Crash Causation Study (LTCCS) reported that 13 percent of commercial truckers were considered to be fatigued at the time of their accident. While drowsy driving may not be the sole reason for the accident, it is certainly a contributor when it comes to car crashes.

Plainfield, IL is home to a convergence of traffic thoroughfares. Highway 59 runs through the city to the north and south, Highway 126 to the west and northeast, and Highway 30 to the northwest and southwest. Each of these three local highways crosses paths with Interstate 55, the mighty freeway that carries commerce and commuters between the Chicago area and St. Louis. If you venture on or near I-55 during morning or evening rush hour, you will doubtlessly see vehicles of every type, including throngs of semi-trucks. 

With so much activity, and so much of it ridden with intensity by the time deadlines and the expectations of drivers, accidents involving tractor-trailer trucks are an unfortunate reality in and around the Plainfield area. Fortunately, Illinois state law allows for truck accident victims to seek financial recourse for the harms and losses suffered in a collision. 

Personal Injuries Sustained in a Collision With a Large Truck May Be Severe 

A truck driver responsible for the deaths of five people was recently sentenced to 10 years in prison. The deadly truck accident occurred in northern Illinois.

The truck driver pleaded guilty to five counts of reckless homicide. He also pleaded guilty to falsifying logbook records tracking how many hours he had worked.

The 2014 accident occurred on Interstate 55 near Channahon when traffic slowed down in a construction zone. Four of the fatalities were adults, and one 11-year-old also died. In one car, the accident claimed the life of a father, but his three children survived.