St. Louis County Overweight/Overloaded Truck Accident Lawyer
Being involved in an accident of any kind could cause significant damage to a person’s health and finances. However, accidents involving overweight/overloaded trucks or 18 wheelers could bring about the most severe injuries. In some cases, these injuries could even be fatal. Considering the high risk of incurring expensive medical costs as a result of your injuries, it may be best to contact a skilled attorney. A St. Louis County overweight/overloaded truck accident lawyer could work with you to obtain the payment you deserve.
How to Reduce a Truck’s Weight
The main thing that a trucking company can do to ensure that their vehicle is an acceptable weight is to simply abide by federal regulations. There are also other things that are built into the transportation system, like weigh stations, that allow a trucker to monitor their tracking weight. They should also get proper weigh-ins at the pickup location and keep proper logs so that if they do come in overweight at a weigh station, they can point to the logs and show that they were given the incorrect weight at the pickup location.
Characteristics of an Overweight/Overloaded Truck
As defined by St. Louis County truck regulations, an overweight truck is a vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of more than 80,000 pounds. However, there are other limitations on weights. The maximum weight allowed on the interstate system is limited to no more than 20,000 pounds per axle.
The maximum weight allowed on all other highways in Missouri is limited to no more than 22,000 pounds per axle. The maximum weight allowed per axle in a commercial zone defined in Section 304.190 is limited to no more than 22,400 pounds. The steering axle weight is subject to the limits listed, but the manufacturer’s weight rating for the steering axle must not be exceeded and the steering axle tire weight rating also must not be exceeded.
Legality of Operating an Overloaded Truck
It is extremely dangerous for a truck to operate over the acceptably safe weight for a variety of reasons. The most obvious reason is that the truck is a danger to other vehicles on the roads. However, other reasons include destruction to roadways and bridges, which can cause more damage later on down the road.
However, Missouri Statute Section 304.200 does allow permits for vehicles with non-divisible loads exceeding maximum dimensions or weights. Additional restrictions may be placed upon these permits. The primary restriction is that there is no movement as allowed on the following holidays:
- New Year’s day
- Memorial day
- Independence day
- Labor day
- Thanksgiving
- Christmas
Mathematically, only a fairly small percentage of trucks operate above the acceptably safe weight. However, there are more than 208 million trucks that are weighed each year and there are tens of thousands, if not hundreds of thousands, of semi-trucks on the roads each year that are overweight. Although the actual percentage is low, the sheer number of trucks that are overweight is astounding.
Risks Posed to Nearby Drivers
When it comes to an overweight or overloaded truck, the primary risk is the risk of the vehicle not being able to stop in time because it can cause braking failures. Another danger is the increased risk of tipping on corners or curves.
Injuries that occur as a result of being in an accident with an overweight or overloaded truck are fairly severe. The types of injuries that normally occur are deaths, loss of limbs, scarring, broken bones, and severe traumatic brain injuries.
Contact a St. Louis County Overweight/Overloaded Truck Accident Attorney
Reaching out to an attorney for legal assistance could be vital for your claim. Failure to do so could negatively impact your chances at obtaining the compensation you may be entitled to. Upon meeting with a St. Louis County overweight/overloaded truck accident lawyer, you may find that their experience in dealing with cases similar to yours could make the claims process much easier to traverse through. However, the first step towards any claim begins with a consultation. To get started, be sure to reach out to an attorney today.