Commercial motor vehicles (CMV) are as useful as they are dangerous. Even the lightest CMV can weigh as much as 10,000 pounds. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) also oversees the trucking industry to ensure owners of CMVs don’t overload their trucks with cargo. The FMCSA regulations restrict most CMVs to a maximum weight of 80,000 pounds.
These regulations were set in place relatively early in history to protect the integrity of the highways and the safety of U.S. citizens. Overweight trucks tend to put lots of pressure on the road, which causes infrastructure damage.
Likewise, the heavier a truck is, the less in control of it a driver will be. Overweight CMVs can blow out tires or overturn, which can endanger the safety of other people on the road.
In some states, overweight truck violations can usually lead to hefty fines and imprisonment for the drivers. Delaware, Alabama, and Ohio all jail truck drivers who are caught with overweight trucks. In Maryland, if a driver is found hauling product 20,000 pounds over the declared weight on the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, he or she will be fined up to $16,000.
If you or a loved one were harmed by an overweight CMV, you might be eligible for compensation for medical bills, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering. The court is more likely to look favorably on you if the truck driver violated in FMCSA regulations and caused an accident. Talk to one of our skilled Fort Worth truck accident attorneys about your case as soon as possible. The Law Office of James M. Stanley can offer you dedicated lawyers who are proud to help the victims of personal injury through their legal difficulties. Our firm aims to alleviate the financial and emotional hardship you may be facing. Let us see what we can do for you.
Contact us at (817) 591-4222 or fill out our online form to schedule your complimentary case evaluation today.