Cargo truck accidents can be frustrating. Especially when fully loaded, cargo trucks have a total mass that can easily make them deadly in the event of a collision. As a result, the outcomes of cargo truck accidents are often severe, posing an elevated risk of catastrophic injuries and even fatalities compared to crashes involving only personal vehicles. Unfortunately, the legal concerns arising from cargo truck accidents are frequently complex as well, owing not just to the severity of the injuries and property damage with which these accidents are commonly associated but also to the multiple parties that may be involved in a commercial truck accident. An experienced Missouri truck accident lawyer with Steelman Gaunt Crowley may be able to offer you guidance tailored to the specifics of your unique situation during a free case evaluation. Call (573) 341-8336 today to speak with a truck accident lawyer in Rolla.
Understanding Cargo Truck Hazards
Sometimes called a freight truck, a cargo truck is a type of large commercial motor vehicle (CMV) that typically consists of a cab and engine unit hitched to a trailer for hauling freight. The trailers used in these semi-trucks are most often enclosed, but may in some instances be open at the top. Certain types of cargo, such as supplies used in construction, may even call for a flat-bed trailer design. Across all of these variations, the most common configuration is one trailer per cab unit, but two trailers may also sometimes be linked together to form a double length.
The outcomes of cargo truck accidents tend to be more severe than those of accidents involving passenger vehicles exclusively. The exact risks posed can depend to some extent on the cargo hauled, as well as on whether the truck is assembled with two trailers vs. one, and whether the trailer portion is open vs. enclosed. In general, however, the risks that cargo truck accidents pose over and above their passenger car counterparts are linked to the greater size and weight of vehicles designed for transporting freight (particularly when loaded), and their correspondingly lesser maneuverability.
Factors Contributing to Accidents
Although it is relatively easy to find online sources asserting that the causes of truck accidents are different from the factors that lead to passenger vehicle collisions, it may be more accurate to say that many of the most common contributing factors are broadly similar across both types of motor vehicle accidents, but the way these factors are distributed in terms of their frequency, and the considerations they may raise concerning accident liability, may show some differences. Reviewing a few key points in this respect may help to set the stage for a deeper understanding of the factors that pertain more specifically to cargo truck accidents. One of our personal injury attorneys at Steelman Gaunt Crowley may also be able to help you understand the relationship between specific truck accident causes and the determination of legal responsibility for damage resulting from the crash.
Distracted Driving
Distracted driving is a contributing factor in many motor vehicle accidents. While the Missouri Department of Revenue (DOR) mandates strict training requirements for first-time commercial driver’s license (CDL) applicants, even the most rigorous truck driver training will not always overcome the simple human susceptibility to distraction.
Driver Fatigue
Sometimes driver fatigue can be a cause of inattention at the wheel, contributing to distracted driving incidents. However, exhaustion – especially when accompanied by symptoms of drowsiness – can cause significant impairment in reflexes and response times, even in drivers who are dedicated, disciplined, and giving their full attention to the task at hand. Data cited by the National Safety Council (NSC) suggest that drowsy driving can cause impairment equivalent to the legal limit for blood alcohol content (BAC) imposed at the federal level.
Impairments caused by fatigue can unfortunately impact any driver, regardless of the type of vehicle involved. However, the demanding schedules expected of many cargo truck drivers can make fatigued driving more common among truckers driving long-haul freight routes than among individuals in many other professions, while the nature of the trucking job itself increases the likelihood that extreme fatigue may overtake these drivers while they are on the road.
Equipment Failures
Mechanical failure in any part of a vehicle can lead to an accident. Failing brakes are perhaps the most obvious and most direct example, but a failure in a vehicle’s headlights can make it difficult for a driver to see the road ahead, or for other drivers to see the vehicle’s approach. Failed lights in turn signals can also cause problems, especially if the driver is unaware of the failure and therefore does not attempt to compensate with hand signals or other maneuvers.
The greater mass of cargo trucks compared to passenger vehicles makes brake failure such a pronounced hazard that some stretches of interstate highways with long downhill gradients have dedicated lanes for runaway trucks to use in a brake failure emergency. On most roads, however, and for equipment failures other than brakes, there are no more protections for semi-trucks than for any other vehicles.
Blind Spots
All vehicles can create blind spots, with their exact size and location depending on the configuration of the vehicle, the arrangement of its mirrors, and even the height of the driver. Trucks tend to have more expansive blind spots than most passenger cars or light-duty trucks, however – and while CDL training is intended to help truck drivers learn to account for these blind spots when making turns or changing lanes, mistakes still happen, and may be compounded by the injudicious driving decisions of other drivers, who may not always recognize the “danger zone” created by the side walls of many cargo trucks; trailer component.
Accident Causes Specific to Large Trucks
There are a few causes of cargo truck accidents that, while not necessarily common, are noteworthy precisely because, by contrast to many of the more prevalent factors contributing to trucking accidents, these pertain to large semi-trucks almost exclusively. These truck accident causes include:
- Failure in the trailer coupling: While other vehicles, not rated for commercial cargo use, do often have trailer hitches, the types of trailers they are suited for hauling are not typically of a size or weight to cause the same amount of damage in the event of a coupling malfunction as those that make up the cargo portion of a large freight truck.
- Improperly loaded cargo: The loads carried by cargo trucks can often be extremely heavy. Getting heavy cargo properly balanced during the loading process can be critical to the truck’s stability once it is on the road. For similar reasons, many types of cargo must be carefully secured within the trailer compartment to prevent the goods from shifting during transit and, again, unbalancing the cargo truck and increasing the risk that the vehicle may tip out of control.
- Falling freight: Related to both the loading process and the design of the trailer, falling freight can be an issue when the rear doors of an enclosed cargo compartment are not properly secured prior to travel (a fortunately rare, but highly dangerous, circumstance), or when the trailer used is an open, “flatbed” design. In the latter case the flat trailer will be susceptible to many of the same falling object risks as the trailers commonly used with personal vehicles, or those used in farming or construction. As with trailer coupling failures, however, the consequences in a cargo truck accident are apt to be especially severe, owing to the weight of cargo commonly carried on these vehicles, and in some cases the difficulty the driver may have in seeing the disaster happening at the rear of their vehicle, impeding the trucker’s ability to take timely action to limit the damage.
While the factors involved can often influence how an accident unfolds, any truck accident can be destructive of property, and may result in catastrophic, even life-threatening, injuries for occupants of passenger vehicles involved in the collision.
FAQ
Q: What is a cargo truck accident?
A cargo truck accident involves a large commercial truck (or tractor‑trailer, 18‑wheeler, etc.) carrying freight or cargo — and the crash or collision arises from problems related to the cargo itself (its loading, securing, weight, balance, or maintenance), rather than just the driving.
Q: What kinds of cargo‑related problems commonly cause truck accidents?
Cargo‑related accidents often happen because:
- The cargo was overloaded — more weight than the truck or trailer safely can carry.
- The cargo was unbalanced or unevenly distributed across the trailer, upsetting the truck’s balance or center of gravity.
- The cargo was not properly secured — using inadequate tie‑downs, broken restraints, or improper loading methods.
- The cargo shifted during transit (e.g. during braking, turning, or sudden movement), which destabilizes the trailer.
- Maintenance or equipment failures (tires, brakes, straps, tie‑downs) made the truck less able to safely carry or secure the cargo.
Q: What kinds of accidents result from these cargo problems?
When cargo is improperly loaded or secured, it can lead to serious, often catastrophic outcomes — including:
- Rollover accidents — because the trailer becomes unstable or top‑heavy.
- Jackknife accidents — where the trailer swings out and folds against the cab, increasing risk of multi‑vehicle collisions or blocking roadways.
- Cargo spills or falling objects — items may fall off the truck and strike other vehicles, causing crashes or forcing other drivers to swerve.
- Blowouts or brake failures — excessive weight can overload brakes and tires, increasing risk of mechanical failure, loss of control, or crashes.
- Chain‑reaction or multi‑vehicle collisions — especially if cargo falls unexpectedly or the truck suddenly loses control, involving multiple innocent drivers.
Q: Who can be held responsible if a cargo‑truck accident happens?
Liability can extend beyond just the driver. Potential responsible parties include:
- The cargo loader or shipping company if loading was done improperly (overweight, unbalanced, unsecured).
- The trucking/carrier company — if they failed to enforce loading rules, perform inspections, maintain equipment, or trained staff properly.
- Equipment or parts manufacturers or maintenance providers, if defective restraints, defective trailers, or faulty equipment contributed to the accident.
- Possibly shippers or freight brokers, if they directed unsafe loads or ignored weight/ load‑securement requirements.
Q: Why are cargo truck accidents more dangerous than many regular car accidents?
Because of the size, weight, and forces involved — a fully loaded cargo truck can weigh tens of thousands of pounds; when cargo shifts or a truck rolls, the impact is far greater than with a typical passenger vehicle. This dramatically increases risk of severe injuries, fatalities, or multi‑vehicle pileups, especially for other drivers on the road.
Q: If I’m involved in a cargo‑truck accident, what should I do to protect myself or a claim?
- Try to document the scene: photos of the truck/trailer, license plates, visible cargo or debris, skid marks, road/weather conditions.
- Get contact info from the truck driver, trucking company, any loaders/shippers if possible, and any witnesses.
- Seek medical attention promptly, even if you feel fine — many injuries from such crashes are serious and may not show immediately.
- Preserve any evidence you can: police reports, photos, witness statements, vehicle data (if available), cargo‑loading or shipping documents.
- If liability or cargo‑securement seems involved, consider contacting an attorney experienced in truck accidents — because these cases often require careful investigation into loading, maintenance, and compliance with safety regulations.
Consult With Our Truck Accident Lawyers
If you have been injured or had your own vehicle damaged or destroyed in one of these potentially devastating cargo truck accidents, you may be able to recover compensation to pay for your medical bills, vehicle repairs, and other expenses arising from the accident. The availability of compensation, as well as the calculation of damages, will typically depend to some extent on the circumstances of the accident and the determination of legal responsibility. Call (573) 341-8336 to connect with the Rolla truck accident lawyers at Steelman Gaunt Crowley and schedule a free consultation to discuss your case.