Were you injured in an accident involving an overloaded commercial truck in Florida? You may be entitled to compensation. Shaked Law Firm, P.A. can help you make the most of your case and won’t hesitate to bring your case to court if necessary. Contact us today at 305-937-0191 to schedule a free consultation with a Florida overloaded truck accident lawyer.
Our Florida overloaded truck accident lawyers have more than 100 years of combined experience and have recovered millions of dollars for injured clients. If you hire us, we can help you pursue the full compensation available under the law.
How Shaked Law Firm Can Help After an Overloaded Truck Accident in Florida
Overloaded truck accident cases can be worth a lot of money, but they also usually entail taking action against a powerful trucking company. These corporations are backed by entire legal departments with vast resources at their disposal.
Hiring Shaked Law Firm, P.A., will set you up for success and allow you to level the playing field. Our Florida personal injury attorneys will help you pursue the compensation you deserve.
If you hire our Florida truck accident attorneys, we can:
- Investigate the accident and determine whether the truck exceeded federal or state weight limits
- Obtain weigh station records, cargo manifests, and bill of lading documents
- Identify every party that may share liability for the crash
- Work with accident reconstruction specialists and trucking safety experts
- Calculate the full extent of your economic and non-economic damages
- Handle all communications with the insurance companies on your behalf
- File a lawsuit and take your case to court if a fair settlement cannot be reached
Taking these steps early can help preserve critical evidence and strengthen your claim.
Call or send us a message online today to schedule your free case review. We’re ready to get started on your case right away.
Florida and Federal Truck Weight Limits
Florida Statutes § 316.535 sets strict limits on how much weight a commercial truck can carry. For a standard tractor-trailer with four or more weight-bearing axles, the maximum gross vehicle weight is 80,000 pounds. Weight must also be distributed properly across the truck’s axles, with single axles limited to 20,000 pounds and tandem axles capped at 40,000 pounds.
Florida allows a 10 percent tolerance on individual axle weights, meaning a single axle can carry up to 22,000 pounds and a tandem axle can carry up to 44,000 pounds. However, the 80,000-pound gross weight cap has a zero-tolerance policy. No matter how the load is distributed, the truck’s total weight cannot legally exceed that limit.
What Makes Overloaded Trucks Dangerous?
An overloaded truck handles very differently from one operating within legal weight limits. The extra weight affects nearly every aspect of how the vehicle performs, often in ways that make serious accidents far more likely.
Some of the most common dangers include:
- Significantly longer stopping distances, especially at highway speeds
- Increased risk of tire blowouts from the added strain on rubber and wheel components
- Brake system failures caused by excessive heat and wear
- Greater likelihood of rollover accidents, particularly on curves and exit ramps
- Jackknife incidents triggered by sudden shifts in an unbalanced load
- Loose cargo spilling onto the road and creating hazards for other drivers
These risks are compounded by the fact that many overloaded trucks are also improperly loaded, meaning the weight distribution is uneven on top of being excessive. That combination can turn an already dangerous vehicle into something unpredictable.
How Much Is My Overloaded Truck Accident Claim Worth?
Many factors influence what your claim may ultimately be worth, and no two cases are exactly alike.
Some of the things our truck accident attorneys will evaluate include:
- How severe your injuries are and whether you will make a full recovery
- The total cost of your medical treatment, both past and future
- How much income you’ve lost and whether your earning capacity has been affected
- The nature and extent of your pain and suffering
- How compelling the available evidence is in your favor
- Whether multiple parties share liability for the accident
In general, these claims can be worth more than the average car accident case. We’ll be able to give you a better idea of what your case might be worth during your free consultation; reach out today to set up a time to meet.
Contact Our Florida Overloaded Truck Accident Attorneys for a Free Consultation
Don’t wait to get legal help after an overloaded truck accident in Florida. You may have more options for compensation than you realize, and acting quickly gives our legal team at Shaked Law Firm, P.A. the best chance to preserve the evidence needed to build a successful case.
Our Florida overloaded truck accident lawyers have over a century of combined experience and are here to get to work for you next. Contact us today to schedule your completely free initial consultation.