Who among us hasn’t seen a car or truck go by with mattresses or lumber or debris flapping dangerously in the wind? Hilarious when you see it on a TV commercial – right? Not so funny when you are traveling next to it. It’s a recipe for a catastrophic car accident.
Imagine traveling down the highway at speeds up to 65 miles per hour only to have a heavy object crash through your windshield or appear suddenly in your path.
Did you know that Connecticut has very strict laws governing cargo transport? Here’s a summary:
- No vehicle shall be driven or moved unless that vehicle is built or loaded so as to prevent any of its load from dropping, sifting, leaking or otherwise escaping.
- No person may carry a load unless that load, and any covering protecting it, is securely fastened to prevent either the covering or the load from coming loose.
- No refuse truck which has a separable container with an open-top may operate on Connecticut roads unless the contents of the container are secured by the use of a screen or other material having perforations of a size not greater than two square inches.
- Farm motor vehicles are exempt from this law.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, each year in the U.S. there are approximately 25,000 car accidents caused by improperly secured loads. Most of these accidents are caused by flying debris from garbage trucks, shredded tires from tractor-trailers, as well as loose lumber and other construction materials. An additional number are caused by homeowners transporting household items that break free – or were not secured in the first place.
- If you ever see a dangerous load being transported – immediately and safely put as much distance as possible between you and the offending carrier.
- Pull off the road if necessary.
- Never attempt to carry a load of any size that is not properly covered or secured to your truck or car.
- If you are carrying a load, stop and check it frequently to ensure that your cargo is securely tied down and properly covered.
And remember – any driver who fails to secure their load and causes an accident not only faces legal penalties but also civil liability for any injuries and damages that may occur.
If you are ever injured in a car accident caused by debris from another vehicle, know that the Connecticut car accident lawyers at RisCassi & Davis have been assisting drivers injured in accidents for almost 60 years. And we have received both state and national recognition for our work in this area. If you are ever in a car accident of any kind and would like a free consultation with one of our Connecticut car accident lawyers, please contact us.
There is no obligation.