Liability for Improperly Secured Construction Equipment on Trucks
When Poorly Secured Equipment Leads to Serious Truck Accidents in Georgia
Construction sites rely on heavy machinery, and moving that equipment between job sites often involves large commercial trucks. But when that equipment isn’t properly secured, the result can be catastrophic. A single unsecured excavator, skid steer, or crane attachment can turn a routine haul into a deadly highway hazard.
At Gary Martin Hays & Associates, our attorneys have represented clients injured in truck crashes involving construction equipment that broke free, shifted in transit, or caused the entire load to topple. These aren’t random accidents—they’re preventable failures that point to negligence.
If you were injured in a truck accident caused by improperly secured construction equipment, a Georgia truck accident lawyer can help you understand who is responsible and fight for the maximum compensation you deserve.
Why Construction Equipment Must Be Secured Correctly
The sheer weight and shape of construction equipment make it especially dangerous during transport. Whether it’s a backhoe, a bulldozer, or a large generator, these loads must be secured with industry-approved tie-downs, chains, and binders. If the load shifts during a turn or emergency stop, the driver can lose control, or the equipment can fall onto the roadway and strike another vehicle.
Improperly secured construction loads may result from:
- Using worn, inadequate, or broken straps and chains
- Failing to use enough tie-downs for the size/weight of the load
- Inadequate training of the driver or loader
- Skipping required inspection or load checks
- Improper loading technique or imbalance
In each of these scenarios, someone failed to follow clear safety standards—and that failure may expose them to liability.
Who Can Be Held Responsible for the Accident?
In crashes involving improperly secured construction equipment, liability may rest with multiple parties. These accidents are rarely the sole fault of the driver. In many cases, other companies and individuals play a role in the failure.
Potentially liable parties may include:
- The truck driver, if they failed to inspect or recheck the load
- The trucking company, for pressuring drivers to skip safety steps
- The construction company, if they loaded the equipment or provided improper instructions
- A third-party cargo loading company, often hired to handle logistics
- Equipment rental firms, if faulty straps or anchors were used
Proving liability requires a detailed investigation, often involving inspection reports, Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) violations, training records, and black box data. At Gary Martin Hays & Associates, our truck accident attorneys know how to track down this evidence and hold every negligent party accountable.
FMCSA Load Securement Rules and Industry Standards
The FMCSA sets detailed rules for securing heavy equipment and other cargo on commercial trucks. These include performance-based standards, minimum tiedown requirements, and equipment strength expectations. If a truck fails to follow these rules and cargo shifts or falls, that’s often a clear indicator of negligence.
FMCSA requires that cargo securement systems be able to withstand the following forces during routine driving maneuvers:
- 0.8 g deceleration in the forward direction (e.g., sudden braking)
- 0.5 g acceleration in the rearward direction (e.g., reversing into a dock)
- 0.5 g acceleration in the lateral direction (e.g., turning or swerving)
These values reflect the amount of force cargo must resist to stay in place under real-world driving conditions. If construction equipment moves or falls off a truck during normal stops or turns, it often means the securement system was inadequate—and that the carrier may have violated federal law.
FMCSA rules also specify the minimum number of tiedowns, working load limits, and the proper use of anchor points, especially for heavy machinery and construction vehicles. Violating any of these requirements may establish fault and expose the trucking company to legal liability for any injuries or damage caused.
When Loose Construction Equipment Creates Road Hazards for Other Drivers
Not every crash involving unsecured construction equipment happens during a collision. In some cases, machinery or tools fall off a truck entirely—creating deadly road hazards for unsuspecting drivers. A skid steer bucket, concrete saw, or steel plate that detaches mid-haul can strike vehicles directly or cause chain-reaction crashes as drivers swerve to avoid the debris.
These situations can be especially dangerous at highway speeds or in low-visibility conditions. Victims often don’t realize what hit them, and the truck responsible may keep driving without even noticing something fell off. This makes it harder to identify the negligent party—but not impossible.
An experienced Georgia truck accident lawyer can help by:
- Investigating the scene for tire tracks, debris patterns, and surveillance footage
- Coordinating with law enforcement to track down the vehicle
- Reviewing delivery records and jobsite logs to identify who loaded the equipment
- Analyzing inspection reports and maintenance logs
Just because the truck wasn’t involved in a direct collision doesn’t mean they’re off the hook. If your injuries were caused by fallen construction equipment, you still have a right to pursue a legal claim and demand accountability.
Georgia’s Interstates See High Risk of Construction Load Crashes
Across Georgia, truck routes like I-75, I-285, and I-85 are used frequently to haul construction equipment between job sites. Unfortunately, many of these crashes occur when drivers are speeding to meet deadlines, poorly trained, or overloaded by contractors rushing to finish a project.
Inside the Atlanta perimeter (I-285), most heavy trucks are restricted—so equipment hauls here often involve smaller commercial vehicles. But even these smaller trucks can cause massive damage if construction gear falls or shifts in traffic.
Types of Injuries from Equipment-Related Truck Accidents
Whether equipment slides off a flatbed into another vehicle or the entire truck tips from a shifting load, the injuries can be catastrophic. Victims may suffer:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Crush injuries or amputations
- Broken bones
- Internal organ damage
- Paralysis or spinal cord injuries
- Fatal injuries in extreme cases
The long-term costs of these injuries can be enormous. Medical bills, lost income, permanent disability, and emotional trauma must all be factored into any legal claim.
Compensation Available for Victims
If you were injured due to improperly secured construction equipment on a truck, you may be entitled to recover compensation for:
- Emergency medical treatment and future care needs
- Lost wages and future lost earnings
- Pain and suffering
- Disability and loss of quality of life
- Wrongful death damages for surviving family members
In some cases, punitive damages may also be available if the conduct was especially reckless—such as a trucking company knowingly skipping safety steps or violating load limit laws.
How an Experienced Truck Accident Lawyer Can Help
Trucking and construction companies often deny responsibility or shift blame after a crash. That’s why it’s crucial to have a legal team that knows how to handle both industries. At Gary Martin Hays & Associates, we move fast to preserve critical evidence and investigate whether FMCSA violations or safety shortcuts contributed to the crash.
Our firm has recovered more than $1 billion for Georgia families. We don’t back down from large corporate defendants—and we never settle for less than what our clients truly deserve.
Contact Georgia’s Billion Dollar Truck Wreck Lawyer Today
You shouldn’t be left paying the price for someone else’s negligence. If a construction equipment truck caused your injury, contact the Law Offices of Gary Martin Hays & Associates today for a free consultation. We’ll investigate your crash, explain your rights, and fight to get you every dollar you’re owed.
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