Injured Due to an Unsecured Load?
Contact an Attorney at Garvin Injury Law Today
The consequences for victims can be life-changing when cargo falls off a commercial truck on a busy Florida highway. Drivers behind the truck may have no time to react before loose materials strike their vehicle and force them into a dangerous maneuver. These truck accidents happen more often than most people think and can be some of the most serious that take place on the road.
Florida law requires all drivers to properly secure their loads to prevent cargo from spilling onto the roadway. Failing to meet this obligation can lead to liability in a personal injury claim for both the victim’s economic and non-economic damages.
Contact a truck accident attorney in Fort Myers to pursue financial compensation today.
Call (239) 277-0005.
How Unsecured Loads Cause Truck Accidents in Florida
An unsecured load does not always mean a truck bed full of loose gravel. The dangers take many forms, each of which can create a chain reaction on the road:
- Construction materials falling off a flatbed truck
- Improperly secured trailer doors swinging open and spilling contents
- Loose debris blowing out of an uncovered truck bed
- Cargo shifting inside a trailer, causing the driver to lose control
- Tires and other truck components detaching at highway speeds
These causes have the potential to cause especially severe types of crashes, such as rollover accidents, that can impact a number of vehicles all at once.
Who Can Be Held Liable in an Unsecured Load Truck Accident Case?
One of the things that makes unsecured load accidents relatively complicated is that more than one party may share responsibility for what happened. Depending on the circumstances, liability could fall on:
- The truck driver who failed to inspect and secure the load before departing
- The trucking company that did not train its drivers on proper securement procedures
- A third-party cargo loading company that was responsible for loading and securing the freight before the truck left the facility
- A parts manufacturer if a mechanical failure caused the load to come loose
Under Florida law, commercial trucking operations must also comply with federal cargo securement standards set by the FMCSA. A violation of these regulations can serve as evidence of negligence in a personal injury case.
What Should I Do if I Am Injured in a Florida Truck Accident?
If you are involved in an accident caused by an unsecured load in Florida, taking the right steps afterward can help protect your ability to recover compensation:
- Call 911 and make sure the accident is documented in a police report
- Seek medical treatment right away and remember that Florida requires you to get care within 14 days to preserve your PIP benefits
- Take photos and videos of the debris, the truck, your vehicle, and any visible injuries
- Try to get the truck’s license plate number and any identifying information about the trucking company
- Collect contact information from witnesses who saw the accident occur
- Contact a personal injury attorney before speaking with any insurance company
Florida’s statute of limitations for most truck accident cases is two years from the date of the accident, though there are exceptions for some claims. The sooner you reach out to a lawyer for help, the better for your case.
Set Up a Free Consultation With a Florida Truck Accident Attorney
Unsecured load truck accidents in Florida can leave victims with life-altering injuries and a complicated path to compensation. If you were injured because a truck driver failed to secure their cargo, a Fort Myers personal injury attorney with Garvin Injury Law can help you identify all of the responsible parties and pursue the full value of your claim from there.
Contact a truck accident lawyer in Florida with our team today for a free consultation at (239) 277-0005. We’ve recovered tens of millions of dollars for our clients and will work just as hard on your behalf.