It’s a well-known fact throughout the trucking industry that four wheeled vehicles are usually the at-fault party in traffic accident between semis and cars.
The Windmill Example of an Oversized Load:
Owner Operator, David, has a small but profitable trucking business. He and his wife own one heavy haul truck and trailer, designed specifically to haul oversize loads like windmill blades. Last month David and a pilot car were transporting a windmill blade across Oklahoma when a young girl in a small car ran right into the side of David’s trailer. By the grace of God, she wasn’t hurt, and neither was the cargo. But David’s heavy haul trailer was damaged enough to not be drivable until fixed.
The transfer of the windmill blade to a substitute driver’s equipment was expensive, as well as the tow of the trailer to the repair shop. While David’s truck wasn’t damaged, it wasn’t very useful without the trailer that was married to it.
Mitigation Problems for Heavy Haulers
David did everything he could to get the repairs moving quickly. While he knew the odds of finding the type of heavy haul trailer he needed were almost futile, he emailed rental shops asking if they had the equipment he required. The answer was always “no”, but it was good David took these steps because the insurance adjuster for the young girl’s insurance company asked for proof of mitigation. David was able to forward the rejection letters from the rental companies, showing no comparable equipment was available for rent.
Crazy accidents happen, including one in 2020 between a cattle hauler and a truck carrying a wind turbine blade in Wyoming. Ice may have been a factor in that accident.
Remember to stay safe out there!
As we go into the winter season, be extra cautious of those drivers around you. While you may be a very safe driver, you and your equipment are a big target for others not paying attention.
As always, if you need a lawyer to assist you with a trucking insurance claim, choose a trucking lawyer experienced in trucking claims. We at Eckert & Associates, PA focus on trucking claims and the men and women of the trucking industry. Please call us with your next claim, and we will be happy to discuss your matter at no charge.
Kelsea Eckert enjoys helping clients resolve their insurance and downtime claims. She is active in the trucking community and is always willing to speak with groups about transportation topics.
Kelsea was raised in the Bloomington, Illinois area and has practiced law since 1988. She lives in Florida and Kentucky, representing clients across the United States.
Over the years, she has written numerous books, including: The Illinois Legal Filing Directory, Small Claims Court Without a Lawyer, How to Form Your Own Corporation, Getting Paid in Full, Lawsuits of the Rich and Famous, and Selling Internationally, Without a Product.
Kelsea regularly speaks at trade shows, podcasts, and radio shows on transportation issues. She writes articles for newsletters, magazines and the Eckert & Associates, PA blog. Some of her writings and interviews are available on Transport Topics, Landline Media, Expediters Online, Service Truck Magazine, and other transportation media networks.
Kelsea attended Illinois State University and University of Georgia during her undergraduate years. She graduated from Southern Illinois University School of Law. She is a member of the Illinois Bar and Florida Bar.
Kelsea is on the board of the Transportation Club of Jacksonville as the Driver Advocate Chair. She is involved in her community through volunteering, and she and her husband have two amazing children.