Cargo Securement Failures and Crash Risk

Every day, commercial trucks travel down Utah highways, carrying everything from construction materials and heavy machinery to automobiles and hazardous chemicals. These massive vehicles transport the goods that keep our economy moving, but when cargo breaks free from its restraints, a routine delivery can become a catastrophic disaster. Unsecured loads create deadly obstacles for every car sharing the road, such as flying debris, shifting cargo, and out-of-control trucks.

Why Are Shifting Cargo Loads So Dangerous?

When cargo breaks loose inside a trailer, it creates a domino effect of dangers that can quickly spiral out of control. This alters a truck’s center of gravity, making it prone to rollovers, especially when navigating curves or making sudden maneuvers. A load that moves from one side of the trailer to another can cause the entire rig to tip over, crushing nearby vehicles and spilling cargo across multiple lanes of traffic. Even when cargo remains partially secured, loose tie-downs and shifting loads can cause truck drivers to lose control of their vehicles. 

Unsecured cargo also poses a direct threat to other motorists when it falls from trucks onto roadways. Heavy construction materials, machinery parts, or loose debris can strike windshields, puncture hoods, or cause drivers to swerve violently to avoid impact. These incidents often result in devastating injuries, such as brain trauma, spinal cord damage, severe lacerations, and broken bones. In the worst cases, falling cargo has killed drivers and passengers instantly upon impact. Reach out to our truck accident lawyer in St. George if you’ve been injured in an accident.

FMCSA Regulations for Cargo Securement

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) enforces strict standards for cargo securement that are designed to prevent these tragedies. For example:

• Trucking companies must ensure their drivers use appropriate tie-down equipment rated for the specific weight and type of cargo being transported. 
• Chains, straps, and other securement devices must meet minimum strength requirements and be properly positioned to prevent both forward and lateral movement during transport.
• Cargo weight must be properly distributed across the trailer to prevent dangerous load imbalances that could cause handling problems or structural failures. 
• Drivers must conduct pre-trip inspections of their cargo securement systems and perform regular checks during transit or whenever driving conditions change.

Certain types of cargo—such as logs, steel pipes, automobiles, and oversized machinery—are subject to their own regulations. If a truck driver or trucking company violates FMCSA regulations, they can face substantial fines, vehicle impoundment, and even criminal charges in severe cases.

Your Rights After an Accident Caused by Unsecured Cargo

If you were injured in a truck accident and cargo securement failures played a role, you have grounds for legal action. You can file a lawsuit against the truck driver, the trucking company, a cargo loading provider, or any other party that contributed to the failure and your subsequent accident. To secure compensation, you must prove that these negligent actions led to your collision and the injuries and damages you suffered. 

Contact We Win Injury Law Today for a Free Consultation

When improperly secured cargo turns a truck into a deadly projectile, innocent drivers and passengers pay the ultimate price. If you have been injured by falling cargo, shifting loads, or debris from a commercial vehicle, trust our auto accident attorneys at We Win Injury Law to help you seek justice. We will investigate every aspect of loading procedures, equipment failures, and driver training to determine who pays for your damages. Contact us at (435) 688-9558 for a free consultation and let us hold these companies accountable.