If a truck operator, trucking company, or truck loading organization overloads an 18-wheeler, they can be liable for any resulting accidents. However, taking legal action against large companies can be intimidating for people struggling to recover from their injuries. With Trantolo & Trantolo’s truck accident lawyers in Bridgeport, you don’t have to handle this case alone.
Our team has more than 85 years of experience helping truck accident victims secure compensation for medical bills, lost income, and other damages. Don’t fight solo – let our Bridgeport overloaded/ overweight truck accident attorneys get the compensation you deserve.
What Our Attorneys Can Do for You Following a Bridgeport Truck Crash
At Trantolo & Trantolo, we are committed to securing the best possible outcome for your truck accident injuries. Our firm limits case intakes to ensure that every client receives the attention and care they deserve.
We offer free legal consultations to help you understand your rights and options. Our firm only recovers attorneys’ fees if we win a final settlement or verdict in your favor. If we don’t win, we don’t get paid. If you decide to hire us, you get comprehensive legal assistance for no upfront cost, including:
- Personalized representation from an assigned team
- 24/7 assistance for all your questions and concerns
- Constant communication about your case
Your dedicated team will handle every aspect of your case, so you can focus on recovering and rebuilding your life.
Don’t Wait to Start the Legal Process
You usually only have two years to file a lawsuit against a trucking company or other liable party, but insurance claim deadlines can be much shorter. Don’t risk losing your compensation – contact Trantolo & Trantolo as soon as possible to start the legal process.
What Makes Overloaded Trucks So Dangerous?
Trucking companies and drivers must meet strict requirements for load distribution and cargo weight. All cargo must be evenly distributed and secured within the trailer, and the total load must be under the allotted cargo weight for that vehicle.
An overloaded or overweight truck poses a serious hazard to both the truck operator and others sharing the road. The primary dangers of an overloaded truck include:
- Poor maneuverability: Excess weight can make it harder for drivers to steer, especially in poor road conditions or at high speeds. If a trucker cannot steer quickly to avoid collisions, the resulting accidents can be severe.
- Damaged brakes: Brakes in overloaded vehicles may not be able to stop as quickly. With the added strain of an overload, the brakes may become damaged, preventing the truck from stopping and causing dangerous collisions.
- Exceeding tire capacity: Semi-trucks have specialized tires designed for heavy loads and long distances. When a truck is overloaded, the tires can blow out, causing the vehicle to lose control and leaving behind rubber debris across the roadway.
- Mechanical stress: Overloading a tractor-trailer places significant stress on the shocks, suspension, and engine, making it more likely that the truck will break down or lose control.
Semi-trucks can weigh 20-30 times as much as a passenger vehicle. An overloaded vehicle is likely to be heavier and more difficult to maneuver. Semi-trucks also have much higher ground clearance, which makes dangerous underride and override accidents, where the smaller car slides under the trailer, especially likely.
A truck with too much weight can also lose control and sideswipe other vehicles, roll into the ditch, or jackknife, pulling the trailer lengthwise down the road. Such accidents are devastating, causing catastrophic and fatal injuries. If you were injured due to an overloaded 18-wheeler, Trantolo & Trantolo has the knowledge and skill to help you fight for compensation.
Compensation You Could Recover for an Overloaded Truck Accident
If you sustained losses in a trucking accident caused by an overweight vehicle, you have the right to seek compensation. Our Bridgeport personal injury team knows how to make a compelling claim for maximum damages, including:
- Emergency medical care, hospitalization, surgery, and rehabilitation
- Medical supplies, medication, and long-term care
- Out-of-pocket costs for childcare and domestic help
- Reduced hourly wages, salary, and other earnings
- Diminished future income, including wages and benefits
- Property damage to your vehicle and other belongings
- Pain and suffering and emotional distress
- Disability, scarring, and disfigurement
- Diminished quality of life
We know that your injuries are deeply personal, and we are prepared to do what is necessary to secure the compensation you need for the full scope of your losses. Contact our office to discuss your case with a Bridgeport 18-wheeler attorney today.
Wrongful Death Damages Following an Overweight Truck Collision
Tragically, there are over 5,000 fatal truck crashes every year across the US, with approximately 30 in Connecticut alone, and fatalities are on the rise. Over the last decade, large truck traffic fatalities have increased by 43%, leaving hundreds of families seeking closure.
If you lost someone you love to an overweight truck crash, you have our sincere condolences for your loss. Our sympathetic wrongful death attorneys in Bridgeport can provide guidance and support during this difficult time. We are available to help you pursue justice and compensation for your loved one’s untimely passing.
Filing a Legal Claim for an Overloaded Truck Accident
Most semi-truck drivers and trucking companies carry millions of dollars in insurance in case of accidents. However, getting a fair settlement can be a challenge. That’s where our team comes in. While you take the time you need to heal, we will negotiate with insurers, respond to all communication about your case, and handle all legal filings on your behalf.
You can rely on us to:
- Preserve and gather evidence, such as shipping manifests, driver’s logs, delivery schedules, and footage from dashcams, warehouses, and loading docks.
- File insurance claims with the at-fault parties’ insurance carriers – many truck accident claims involve multiple insurers.
- File a lawsuit within the appropriate time frame, as needed.
Many truck accident cases settle out of court, but our trial attorneys are prepared to defend your case before a judge and jury if it means getting a better outcome.
We have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts on behalf of truck accident victims. Rest assured, we will not settle for less than you deserve.
Get the Legal Help You Need Today with a Free Consultation
Contact Trantolo & Trantolo’s Bridgeport overloaded truck accident attorneys for your free case review. We are available to listen to your story and provide sound legal advice, so you can make an educated decision about your next steps.
FAQs for Our Bridgeport Accident Team
How Much Does it Cost to Hire a Truck Accident Lawyer for an Overloaded Truck Claim?
An overloaded/ overweight truck accident lawyer will usually handle injury claims on a contingency fee basis. With Trantolo & Trantolo, you pay no upfront fees or costs. We recover fees only when we secure compensation for your injuries. If we don’t win, you pay nothing for our services.
How Much Is an Overloaded/ Overweight Truck Accident Settlement?
The value of an overloaded/overweight truck accident settlement is different depending on your case details. Catastrophic injuries like spinal cord damage, traumatic brain injury, or loss of limb usually require more medical care and long-term assistance. As a result, these injuries will usually have higher settlements than minor or moderate injuries with fewer long-term effects.
Speak with a truck accident lawyer at Trantolo & Trantolo to learn more about the factors that could affect your damage claim.
Who Is Responsible if a Truck Is Overloaded?
Responsibility for an overloaded truck can fall on several parties, depending on who caused or allowed the extra weight. The truck driver is responsible for checking the vehicle’s load and refusing to operate if it’s unsafe or over the legal limits. The trucking company or carrier may be liable if it directed the driver to exceed weight limits, failed to obtain the proper overweight permits, or ignored safety regulations.
The cargo shipper or loader can also share fault if the freight was improperly loaded or if the weight was misrepresented on paperwork. In some cases, maintenance providers may be responsible if mechanical issues, like worn brakes, made an overweight truck even more dangerous. Determining who is at fault often requires a detailed investigation of records, permits, and loading practices after the crash.
Hear from Our Happy Clients
Trantolo & Trantolo
Office Info:Bridgeport, CT Office
Address: 265 Congress St, Bridgeport, CT 06604, United States
Phone: 844-999-9999
Opening Hours: 24 Hours / 7 Days A Week
Location Info: Our Bridgeport office is located on Congress Street in downtown Bridgeport. We’re across the street from the Bridgeport Police Department and just a short walk from Bridgeport City Hall. If you’re visiting us from outside the downtown area, Connecticut Route 8 or the Connecticut Turnpike (I-95) will bring you near our office.