Understanding Flatbed Truck Accidents And The Negligence That Causes Them
Take a quick drive on a major highway here in Oregon and you will see the large amount of flatbed trucks that are out there on the road. These vehicles make it easy to haul large materials and equipment through the use of a flat, open bed that is most often attached to the frame of the truck (some flatbeds are pulled or detachable). Basically, think of a big semi-truck that doesn’t have any walls or sides to it.
The biggest problem with these trucks occurs when they are improperly loaded. There are precautions that the truck driver must take when loading materials into the flatbed. When these precautions are ignored, accidents happen. With that said, let’s take a closer look at what causes flatbed truck accidents and how negligence is determined with these types of cases.
Understanding how these accidents occur
There are many variables attached to any type of motor vehicle accident, whether it’s a small car or a large truck. However, when it comes to flatbed truck accidents, there are some common causes that most often come into play. Here are some of the common issues that occur with these large flatbed trucks:
- Driver negligence (the load was not secured properly or maybe the driver didn’t make periodic stops to re-check the security of the transported material)
- Jackknifing
- Rollovers
- Brake failure
While most drivers are very diligent in their processes to load the truck, mistakes can occur from time to time. Maybe a tie down was missed in a certain spot. Or maybe the weight of the transported material was calculated incorrectly, causing the truck to shift unexpectedly. These mistakes happen from time to time. When they do happen, accidents occur that most often lead to tragedy.
Oregon trucking laws
Oregon requires all commercial trucks to abide by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations. There are laws related to cargo load securement, requirements for securing cargo and specific requirements for different types of cargo. You can learn more about the truck safety laws here at Oregon.gov.
Determining negligence
These flatbed truck accidents always stem back to negligence in some form or another. The challenge is determining the negligence that took place. This is why you need an experienced attorney who can help you through this process. Most importantly, the negligence that caused the accident needs to be proven — whether it’s the fault of the driver, the truck itself or even a third-party, such as the truck manufacturer. If you cannot determine negligence, you don’t have a case.
If you were the victim of a flatbed truck accident here in the state or Oregon, contact us today at Dwyer Williams Cherkoss Accident Injury Attorneys for a free case evaluation. You can also reach us directly at: 1-800-285-8678. Our team of highly skilled personal injury attorneys has many years of handling truck accident cases all across the state of Oregon. We will work hard to ensure that you receive the compensation that you deserve!