Farmer Cline & Campbell PLLC Injury Lawyers

Free Consults | 866-587-0167

Strong and Caring

Annual truck inspection event focuses on load securement

On Behalf of | Jun 8, 2017 | Truck Accidents |

The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance has planned another 72-hour International Roadcheck spree of inspections. West Virginia truck drivers will be subject to compliance checks, enforcement and educational reminders. To prevent the loss of cargo during transit, inspectors will focus heavily on load securement in this year’s event.

They will inspect tie-downs for signs of wear and tear. Techniques used to secure cargo will also be checked to ensure sufficient restraints are in place and cargo cannot shift. Problems such as loose or damaged tie-downs could result in citations for safety violations. During the event, inspectors will be looking at about 15 trucks or buses per minute across North America.

In the 2016 event, inspectors needed to take 21.5 percent of commercial vehicles examined out of service. Among drivers, inspectors relieved 3.4 percent of them of duty. These actions amounted to 9,080 trucks and 1,436 drivers that failed inspection that year.

Trucks that meet safety standards could be less likely to cause an accident due to equipment failure or cargo flying off a truck bed. However, semi truck accidents of this nature will unfortunately continue to occur. In many cases, occupants of other vehicles that are involved in such a collision will incur catastrophic injuries that require lengthy and expensive medical care and treatment. Lost wages from an inability to return to work during this period can result as well. If an injured victim’s attorney can determine through a review of the accident investigation report, eyewitness testimony and other evidence that the accident was caused by the negligence of the truck driver or carrier, it might be advisable to file a personal injury lawsuit against the responsible party that would seek compensation for those and other losses.