Unsecured materials can be fatal when they’re hurtling at you on the highway. If you find yourself traveling behind a load that’s security looks questionable, consider the following.
What to look out for
These types of accidents aren’t just an issue for large semi-trucks. Small pick-ups, SUVs with the trunk door open, and passenger vehicles using bike mounts are likely to have little experience properly securing loads. You should be on the lookout anytime you see a vehicle carrying any type of load.
Even on slow, residential roads, falling objects could cause all types of accidents if drivers behind must suddenly stop.
Exercise caution
It may be easy or very difficult to tell if a driver has secured their load correctly. To be on the safe side, slow down and switch lanes if you see a car carrying a load, then attempt to pass the car when safe to do so.
However, use your best judgement in these circumstances. If the danger of the situation looks like it could be imminent, it might not be safe to attempt to pass the vehicle. Instead, you may want to pull off to the side of the road or slow way down to distance yourself from the driver safely.
A fatal risk
Between the years of 2012 and 2016, the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that over 200,000 crashes had to do with debris in the road from an unsecured load, resulting in over 500 fatalities.
If you or a loved one are involved in an accident because of the negligence another driver took in securing a load to their vehicle, it’s important to take action. An attorney with proven results knows how to guide you through the process to recover the damages.