Louisiana drivers are used to sharing the road with commercial haulers, but it doesn’t mean they like it. Driving next to these massive machines can be terrifying, particularly when cargo looks to be poorly secured. Sadly, car and truck accidents have occurred due to falling cargo, leaving victims injured or worse.
There are certain standards for securing cargo that trucking companies and their employees are supposed to abide by. The current regulations are what they are because of the results of a multi-year study that was conducted years ago to evaluate what works and what changes were necessary in order to ensure proper cargo securement. So, what are the current standards for protecting against falling cargo?
According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, the general requirement is that the proper tiedowns must be used, as should the right number of them. The type of ties and the amount of them required is determined by the type of cargo being carried. The current tiedowns used by commercial carriers are allowed. In fact, no updates have been made to the kind of securement devices trucking companies are required to use since roughly 2002.
Failing to abide by government safety regulations can cost trucking companies and their employees a lot. Not only will these companies face fines if caught, if car or truck accidents occur because of a failure to secure cargo properly, the victims or — in the event of fatality — their surviving family members may pursue compensation for their losses by filing claims against all parties deemed responsible in a Louisiana civil court. Those who believe they have valid injury or wrongful death claims against trucking companies can turn to legal counsel for guidance on the best way to approach the matter.