Were you injured in an accident involving a commercial truck with poorly secured cargo in Salt Lake City, UT? You could be entitled to significant compensation from the trucking company or the party responsible for securing the cargo.
An experienced Salt Lake City truck accident lawyer from McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers can help you seek accountability. Contact us today at (385) 462-7630 for a free consultation.
Why Choose McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers After a Trucking Accident in Salt Lake City, UT?
Cases involving cargo-related accidents require a legal team that understands federal trucking regulations and can pinpoint when shippers or carriers make mistakes. At McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers, we have the experience and the track record to build your case and get justice.
Clients throughout Salt Lake City, Utah, choose our firm because:
- Our attorneys bring more than five decades of combined experience to complex trucking litigation.
- Our Salt Lake City personal injury lawyers have secured over $500 million in compensation for injured victims.
- One of our founding attorneys has been recognized by the National Trial Lawyers as a Top 10 Trucking Trial Lawyer.
- Our lawyers have a background in insurance defense that gives you an edge.
Call us today to schedule a free case review with a Salt Lake City truck accident attorney to discuss your rights.
FMCSA Cargo Securement Regulations
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces strict cargo securement standards under 49 CFR Part 393. These rules help prevent unbalanced or unsecured freight from spilling onto the road or otherwise causing a truck accident.
Federal law requires that cargo be firmly secured to prevent shifting. Carriers must also ensure that tie-downs and chains meet minimum strength requirements.
Concentrating too much weight on one section of a trailer can make a truck unstable, especially during sudden maneuvers or turns.
Drivers must inspect their cargo securement before starting a trip and re-check it during transport (loads can shift during a long haul). When a driver or carrier violates or ignores these safety obligations, that failure may be considered negligence if it led to a collision.
Potentially Liable Parties in Poorly Secured Cargo Claims
Depending on how the load was handled, liable parties may include:
- The truck driver who failed to inspect the load or continued driving despite noticing a problem
- The trucking company that failed to provide proper training or pressured drivers to skip inspections
- The shipper or freight broker that arranged for cargo that exceeded legal limits or failed to disclose the nature of the freight
- The loading company responsible for securing the cargo before departure
- Equipment manufacturers that made defective chains or tie-downs that allowed the cargo to shift
Identifying every party involved is the heart of your truck accident claim. It determines the total insurance coverage available to satisfy your damages and who it will ultimately come from.
In some cases, you might even share fault for an accident. Even if this is the case, you can still recover compensation so long as you are not equally or mostly at fault for the incident.
Recoverable Damages for Salt Lake City Truck Accidents
Utah law permits injured truck accident victims to seek compensation for their personal and financial losses.
These include:
- Current and future medical treatment costs
- Lost wages
- Loss of future earnings
- Property damage reimbursement
- Pain and suffering damages
- Severe emotional trauma
- Permanent disability
- Disfigurement
When a cargo-related truck accident results in wrongful death, Utah law allows surviving family members to pursue a fatal accident claim against the responsible parties. These claims can seek compensation for funeral and burial expenses, the financial support the deceased would have provided, and the loss of their companionship, guidance, and care.
Our experienced truck accident attorneys in Salt Lake City can help you determine the compensation you are entitled to after your collision.
How Long Do I Have to File a Truck Accident Lawsuit in Utah?
Generally, injury victims in Utah have four years from the date of the accident to file a lawsuit. Although this window seems long, it can close before you know it. Contacting an attorney early allows you to stay within the time limits and position your case to have the strongest evidence.
Contact McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers for a Free Consultation
A crash resulting from improperly loaded cargo is rarely a simple accident. It is usually the consequence of a driver or carrier cutting corners to save money, with innocent people paying the price.
McMinn Personal Injury Lawyers has recovered hundreds of millions for clients and is ready to investigate your case today. Contact our Salt Lake City truck accident attorneys for a free consultation, and let our team fight for the recovery you deserve.
