Helping the Injured in Tennessee Since 1977
Overloaded Trucks & Unsecured Loads There's No Substitute for Experience 

Overloaded Trucks & Unsecured Cargo

Were You Injured Because of Unsecured Cargo?

Commercial motor vehicles (CMVs) have a max weight of 80,000 pounds (load plus vehicle weight), although truckers can petition for an oversize or overweight permit with their state’s Department of Transportation. Not only are there weight requirements on loads carried, but federal regulations also dictate how that load can be secured.

Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) cargo securement rules state that each tiedown be attached and secured in a manner that prevents it from becoming loose, opening, unfastening, or otherwise releasing while the vehicle is in transit. FMCSA regulations also require that cargo securement systems be able to sustain various deceleration and acceleration forces in varying directions without compromising the position of the cargo.

Any of these rules, when disregarded, can cause or contribute to serious semi-truck accidents. If you were injured or lost a loved one in an accident with a large truck, we invite you to contact us to investigate your case. We can evaluate your situation to determine if overloading or unsecured cargo may have contributed to your accident.

If so, we could hold the driver or trucking company responsible for negligence.

At Kinnard Law, our Nashville truck accident attorneys have helped injured clients secure millions. We are seasoned trial attorneys who know the right way to handle your case, and we have over 150 years of combined experience—much of it spent trying cases successfully.

The Danger of Unsecured & Overweight Loads

A key part of the transportation process is the actual loading of the vehicles, and if that step isn’t done properly, it can lead to catastrophe. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) details the proper method for loading a truck on its website, and provides a handbook for drivers covering the rules surrounding cargo securement. When these regulations aren’t followed properly, the driver can lose control of the truck and cause a collision.

Common examples of cargo loading and securement issues include:

  • The weight of the cargo is not properly distributed: Whether the cargo’s weight is unevenly distributed to one side or if it is loaded to make the trailer incredibly top heavy, the slightest mistake could cause the truck to flip onto its side. Even if the trailer is perfectly loaded, taking a corner at high speeds puts the truck at risk of tipping. If the cargo’s weight is not properly distributed, this risk only increases.
  • The cargo exceeds the maximum allowable weight: While an 18-wheeler can legally weigh up to 80,000 pounds, not every truck is built to the same standards. Many trucks have a lower capacity, but no matter the make, overloading a truck can have disastrous consequences. The excess weight can cause the truck to break down if it isn’t properly maintained; even if the truck is in perfect working order, the excess weight will adversely affect the truck’s ability to brake, and can put everyone at risk of a collision.
  • The cargo has not been properly secured: Even if the trailer is loaded to an acceptable weight and the weight is perfectly distributed, if the cargo is not properly secured, it is at risk of shifting around during transport. This can be incredibly dangerous, primarily because the weight may unpredictably shift during transport and may help cause the truck to flip onto its side if the driver enters a turn at too high of a speed.

According to the Department of Transportation, a 20-pound object moving at 55 mph can strike with a 1,000-pound impact. Truckers are expected to not only be aware of their loads, but to fasten them down in a way that is safe for everyone on the road. This might include using dunnage or dunnage bags, which are used to fill the space between cargo in trailers, or tiedowns, which are used to keep cargo unmoved during acceleration and deceleration.

In 2012, a government study found that there were 51,000 road incidents in 2010 involving unsecured loads. In 20% of those incidents, other drivers suffered injuries as a result of the debris—that’s over 10,000 injuries. Tragically, 500 people were killed due to unsecured objects.

How Our Firm Can Help

When your injuries have left you less able to provide for yourself, or medical bills are overwhelming you, you do not have to deal with it alone. Our firm has tried hundreds of cases, recovering millions for our clients in record-breaking verdicts and jury awards. We provide our clients with the resources, justice, and closure they need to move forward with their lives. If you need an advocate to stand up to the people that caused your injuries, we can help.

Call (615) 933-2893 to schedule a free consultation today.

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  • Golf Cart Accident $4.4 Million
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  • Auto Accident - Rutherford County $3 Million
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Awards & Accolades

Highly Respected in the Legal Community
  • The Inner Circle of Advocates
    The Inner Circle of Advocates

    Randall Kinnard is a member of the Inner Circle of Advocates, a prestigious invite-only group comprised of the top 100 plaintiffs’ trial lawyers in the United States.

  • Best Lawyers
    Best Lawyers

    Randall Kinnard (since 1993),
    Mary Ellen Morris (since 2017),
    and Jennifer Eberle (since 2022)
    have all been recognized for their legal skill and achievements.

  • Best Law Firms
    Best Law Firms

    The firm has received the prestigious “Best Law Firms” rating in the practice areas of Medical Malpractice Law, Personal Injury Litigation, Product Liability Litigation and Health Care Litigation.

  • American Board of Trial Advocates
    American Board of Trial Advocates

    Attorney Randall Kinnard is a member of ABOTA, a nationwide organization of lawyers who care passionately about the trial system in the United States.

  • American College of Trial Lawyers
    American College of Trial Lawyers

    Randall Kinnard is an inducted member of the ACTL, one of North America’s premier trial organizations comprised of less than 1% of all lawyers in each state.

  • International Academy of Trial Lawyers
    International Academy of Trial Lawyers

    Randall Kinnard is a member of the invitation-only International Academy of Trial Lawyers, which is limited to 500 trial lawyers in the United States.

  • Litigation Counsel of America
    Litigation Counsel of America

    Randall Kinnard is a Fellow of the Litigation Counsel of America, an invite-only honorary society comprised of less than .5% of all U.S. lawyers.

  • Randall Kinnard - Product Liability
    Randall Kinnard - Product Liability

    Attorney Randall Kinnard was named the 2019 Product Liability Litigation – Plaintiffs ‘Lawyer of the Year’ in Nashville, TN.

  • Super Laywers
    Super Laywers

    Randall Kinnard has been voted to TN Super Lawyers®. This organization recognizes the top 5% of attorneys in their practice area.

  • AV Preeminent Rating
    AV Preeminent Rating

    Randall Kinnard and Mary Ellen Morris have received the highest rating for legal excellence by Martindale-Hubbell.

  • 40 Under 40
    40 Under 40

    Our attorneys have been voted by their peers to the "Top 40 under 40" Trial Lawyers list, as awarded by The National Trial Lawyers organization.

  • Best 150 Lawyers
    Best 150 Lawyers

    Our firm’s trial attorneys have been recognized among the state’s leading legal minds, and named by Business TN Magazine to its coveted “150 Best Lawyers in Tennessee” list.

  • Best of the Bar 2023
    Best of the Bar 2023

    Our attorneys have been named as 2023 “Best of the Bar” by Nashville Business Journal.

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Why Choose Kinnard Law

  • Dedication to Our Clients

    We put personal attention on all of our cases and fight for the best possible outcome. Our clients are more than a number or a case to us.

  • Proven Success

    We have recovered millions in record-setting verdicts for our clients varying from medical malpractice to catastrophic auto accidents.

  • Trusted Experience

    Our team of seasoned attorneys includes certified civil trial and medical malpractice specialists who have tried hundreds of cases.

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