Incorrectly Loaded Truck's Cause Accidents

It is possible for HGV’s & larger trucks to cause road accidents in many ways. The driver’s loss of control due to an overweight or an incorrectly loaded vehicle is one of them.

When the consignment of freight on an articulated lorry, large truck or courier vehicle has not been correctly loaded or secured properly, it can move during transit, which makes it much harder for the driver to drive it safely, it can even lead to the loss of control as the trailer may swerve or fishtail along the road.

There are several common reasons why large vehicle accidents happen.

• Excessive weight
• Top-heavy load or badly balanced
• Unsecure or loose freight
• Uneven weight distribution

Also, there is the possibility that the load could somehow come loose or move which would make the lorry unbalanced, increasing the chances of an accident happening.

Overweight Loads Impact Driving Performance

If an artic or heavy goods vehicle is incorrectly loaded or overloaded the driver’s control over the vehicle can be badly affected, which in turn could cause the following:  

• Travel down an inclined road faster than expected.
• Braking becomes much harder.
• The vehicle could make sudden or unexpected turns.
• It can become unbalanced.

The vehicles load must be evenly distributed so that the axles aren't overloaded, causing the truck to be off balance. Incorrect weight distribution is one of the major causes of artics rolling over or jack-knifing.

Who is to blame for trucking accidents?

Courier companies & logistics firms that actually own the trucks and employ the truck driver could be held accountable for any accident that occurs, however, there are several other parties who may be held responsible:

• The driver of the vehicle.
• The owner of the truck.
• The lease company.
• The vehicle manufacturer.
• The company or person responsible for loading the vehicle.