A trucker lost his load on a Houston highway today causing a massive traffic jamb. The truck accident shut the entire freeway down for 45 minutes.
The 18 wheeler was carrying steel that ended up completely blocking the highway, according to reports; the truck driver was cited for failing to secure his load, a violation of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations (which Texas has adopted).
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Regulations provides that no person shall drive a commercial motor vehicle and a motor carrier shall not require or permit a person to drive a commercial motor vehicle unless the motor vehicles cargo is properly distributed and adequately secured as provided in the regulations.
Not only is a truck driver legally responsible for his load his employer (the trucking company) is also legally responsible for insuring the load is properly secured.
If a Houston auto accident is caused by a truck losing a load the truck driver and his company may be held accountable in a car accident injury claim.
In the times where the load of a truck contributes to an accident, the companies who actually loaded the rig are potential responsible parties in a truck accident injury lawsuit.
The regulations are very specific as to the duties of the driver, the truck company and those who load the rig.
Not only is the public at risk for an improperly loaded commercial vehicle, but the truck drivers themselves can be seriously injured or killed due to an improperly secured load.
