When a truck driver hauling an oversized load causes an accident, the results can be catastrophic for anyone nearby. Large trucks account for 11 percent of fatal crashes in the nation every year, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Trucks cause about 10,000 accidents per year in Alabama alone, resulting in about 2,000 deaths and over 100 injuries, according to the Alabama Department of Transportation.
If you suffered injuries in an oversized load truck accident, contact the Huntsville truck accident attorneys of Morris, King & Hodge, P.C., for a free consultation about your truck wreck case.
Our truck accident attorneys have a lengthy record of securing significant results for injured people in tractor-trailer accidents. For example, we won a $800,000 settlement for a client who suffered a broken leg in a collision with a tractor-trailer. Review our testimonials to discover the positive things past clients say about their experience with us, such as T.C., who writes, “This team was wonderful! Being my 1st experience with them, they answered all of my questions and took care of me! Thank you guys!”
Different Types of Oversized and Overweight Loads
Oversized truckloads fall into four classifications. Trucks can be overheight, overwidth, overlength, or overweight. In Alabama, trucks meet these designations in the following ways:
- Overheight loads – An overheight load is over 13 feet, 6 inches.
- Overwidth loads – An overwidth load is wider than 8 feet on roads less than 12 feet across and wider than 8 feet, 6 inches on roads more than 12 feet across.
- Overlength loads – An overlength load is longer than 40 feet for a single vehicle, longer than 57 feet for a semi-truck, or overhangs more than 5 feet on either the front or rear of the vehicle.
- Overweight loads – An overweight load is heavier than 20,000 pounds for a single axle, 34,000 pounds for a tandem axle, 20,000 pounds for a steering axle, and 80,000 pounds in total.
Breaking the law regarding oversize limits could be construed as negligence, which could make the truck driver, trucking company, cargo loaders, or other responsible parties liable for any injuries if the overloading caused a truck crash.
Federal Oversized Load Truck Restrictions
Two main federal regulations apply to wide-load trucks and heavy-load trucks:
- Overwidth regulations – According to federal regulations, trucks must not exceed 8 feet, 6 inches wide. However, Alabama has a smaller width of 8 feet for roads less than 12 feet wide. States can provide permits for trucks that exceed this width limit.
- Overweight regulations – According to federal regulations, trucks must not weigh more than 20,000 pounds for a single axle, 34,000 pounds for a tandem axle, and 80,000 pounds in total. These are the same weight regulations as Alabama’s.
Truck drivers and trucking companies must adhere to these regulations to prevent serious truck accidents. A truck that violates federal or state width regulations risks hitting vehicles in adjacent lanes. A truck that violates weight regulations will have increased stopping distances and may get into otherwise preventable accidents.
Truckers and trucking companies must also have oversized load permits for each state they travel through before entering the state. There is no federal permit that works in every state, and in Alabama, truckers must renew these permits annually. If the truck driver who caused your injuries didn’t have the proper oversized load permit, your attorney may be able to use that as evidence of negligence and of their liability for the accident that harmed you.
Requirements for Oversized Trucks
Beyond having the correct permits, trucks must comply with other requirements depending on how oversized they are and the roads they’re traveling on. These additional requirements include having banners, flags, lights, designated hours of operation, and escorts.
Some of the requirements include:
- Oversize banners – Banners stating “OVERSIZE LOAD” must be on the front and rear of any vehicle carrying an oversized load on Alabama roads. The banners should be yellow with black lettering, be 7 feet wide and 18 inches tall, and have 10-inch-high letters.
- Flag requirements – Orange or red flags must be present at all four corners of the oversized load at the point where the load sticks out the farthest.
- Warning lights – All transport and escort vehicles must have flashing or strobe amber lights. This requirement is not specific to oversized load trucks.
- Hours of operation – Oversized loads can only travel between a half hour before sunrise and a half hour after sunset. They cannot be on the roads on Sundays or certain national holidays.
- Front and rear escorts – Different escort regulations depend on how oversized the load is:
- Loads over 15 feet, 6 inches tall must have a front escort.
- Loads between 12 and 14 feet wide must have a front escort on two-lane roads and a rear escort on multi-lane roads.
- Loads over 14 feet wide must have a front and rear escort on all roads.
- Loads between 90 and 125 feet long need a rear escort, loads between 125 and 150 feet long need a front and rear escort, and loads longer than 150 feet need a front and rear police escort.
Seeking Compensation for Wide-Load and Overweight Truck Accidents
After suffering an injury in a commercial truck crash involving an oversized load in Alabama, you can seek money for the following losses:
- Medical bills – Your surgeries, medical treatments, hospital stays, prescription medications, medical devices, and physical therapy contribute to your compensable medical bills.
- Lost wages – If your injuries prevent you from working while you recover or impact your ability to work long-term or permanently, you can seek compensation for lost wages and reduced future earning potential. You may also be able to seek compensation for lost benefits, such as retirement fund contributions.
- Pain and suffering – The physical pain and emotional suffering you experience due to your injuries are compensable.
It’s crucial to work with our experienced truck accident lawyer after an oversized load truck accident in Huntsville. We can calculate your damages, negotiate with the insurance company for a settlement, and assist you in gathering the necessary evidence to prove that the truck driver, their employer, or another party is at fault for your injuries.
Get Help from Our Huntsville Oversized Load Truck Wreck Attorneys
If you suffered an injury in an overloaded truck accident in Huntsville, call Morris, King & Hodge, P.C. at 256-274-8130, or contact us online for a free consultation about your truck accident claim. A Huntsville truck accident lawyer from our law firm has the experience and knowledge to handle these complex cases and is ready to help you seek the maximum compensation you deserve.
