Accidents from Overloaded Semi Trucks
Guidance from Our San Jose Truck Accident Attorney
When trucking companies do not abide by established safety regulations, innocent people end up paying the price. Such companies should not be allowed to get away with their negligent behavior. As someone who has suffered considerable losses in a truck accident, you should pursue justice against the party that has wronged you and your loved ones. Our experienced San Jose truck accident lawyers at Caputo & Van Der Walde LLP can help.
Experienced Representation from Caputo & Van Der Walde
For more than 85 collective years, our law firm has practiced exclusively in personal injury law. Our wealth of focused experience gives us an edge. Fighting against insurance companies and other powerful entities may be tough, but we have the confidence and the skills to challenge them.
If you wish to learn more about your rights and legal options in a free case evaluation, please call us today at (800) 900-0863.
Truck Legal Weight Limits
According to restrictions set by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), large commercial trucks cannot weigh more than 20,000 pounds per axle. The maximum allowed total weight is 80,000 pounds. These limits are applicable to most roadways; however, there are some roads where lower weight limitations are imposed due to their design and other factors. Trucking companies and their drivers have the duty to comply with these regulations.
Dangers of Overloading Trucks
Trucking companies must make sure that federal weight limits and requirements are met by each and every truck before they take off. They must also prevent cargo from being improperly balanced, measured, or loaded, or else serious accidents can occur. Overloaded truck accidents are easily prevented by proper inspection.
The reasons why overloading is so dangerous when it comes to large trucks are as follows:
- Excessive cargo on a truck causes the weight to shift from the front tires to the rear, making the truck much harder to handle for the driver.
- Overloaded trucks are much harder to stop and the added stress on the brakes may cause them to fail.
- Overloaded trucks are much slower going uphill and much faster going downhill. This can make for dangerous scenarios.
- When an overloaded truck traverses a road, overpass, or bridge while exceeding their weight restrictions, it may cause them to collapse.
- Overloaded trucks have a higher center of gravity and consequently a higher chance of a rollover.
Furthermore, more weight equals greater force; in other words, an overloaded truck has greater lethal potentiality in general and can wreak havoc in any kind of collision.
Truck Accident Lawyers in San Jose – Call (800) 900-0863
If you are unsure about whether you have a viable personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit against a trucking company, please reach out to our San Jose personal injury attorneys at Caputo & Van Der Walde LLP.
We will patiently answer any questions you may have about your case and offer guidance on how to best pursue financial and legal recourse for your losses.
A TRACK RECORD OF SUCCESS
Millions Recovered for Our Clients-
Wrongful Death Skydiving Accident $40,030,000
Attorney Paul Van Der Walde recovered a total of $40,030,000 in compensation for a couple bereft of their 18-year-old son in a tandem skydiving accident.
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School Bus vs. Pedestrian Accident $8,825,000
School bus vs. pedestrian accident resulting in traumatic brain injury.
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Train Maintenance Vehicle vs. Auto $7,411,492
Caputo & Van Der Walde recieved a jury verdict in the amount of $7,411,492 for a surviving widow, who lost her husband when his pickup truck was involved in a collision with an on-track maintence of way vehicle.
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3rd-Degree Burns During a Pedicure $7,291,986
Paul Caputo received a $7,291,985.58 decision for Plaintiff in a case where a client received severe 3rd-degree burns during a pedicure, resulting in the need for numerous skin grafting procedures.
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Paraplegia from Defective Seat $5,650,000
Product liability case involving a defective seat design that resulted in paraplegia.
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Pick-up Truck vs. Pedestrian Accident $4,250,000
Pedestrian crossing a four-lane street in the crosswalk, hit by a full-size pick-up truck. Injuries included a left knee dislocation with complete tears of all ligaments and requiring surgery, right scaphoid fracture requiring surgery, right shoulder AC joint separation with clavicle fracture and PTSD.
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Auto vs. Bicycle Accident $4,000,000
Bicycle rider attempted to maneuver to his left, around a recessed manhole in the bike lane, and was struck by a vehicle that was driving too closely to the bike lane. Significant injuries included tramautic brain injury, skull fracture, and permanent brain damage.
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Big Rig vs. Auto Accident $3,000,000
Big rig vs. auto accident resulting in wrongful death.
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Physical Abuse $3,000,000
Child protective services failed to adequately protect young child from physically abusive foster parents.
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Civil Rights Case $3,000,000
Civil rights case involving excessive force by law enforcement.
Client Testimonials
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“We are so grateful we found Paul Van Der Walde! From the very beginning, it was clear Paul and his team would do whatever it took to help us. We're thrilled with the case result, but more importantly, we're thankful they believed in us.”
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