Dump truck accident.

What makes dump trucks dangerous

• Overloading — paid-by-the-ton hauling incentivizes overloading, which increases stopping distance and tire/brake stress
• Unsecured loads — rocks, dirt, and debris falling from the bed onto following vehicles
• Inadequate maintenance — many dump trucks are older, harder-used vehicles with accumulated wear
• High center of gravity — especially with loads high in the bed, rollovers during turns are common
• Driver fatigue — long hours, early starts, and aggressive scheduling
• Aggressive driving — hauling contracts often pay by the load, creating incentive to rush

Common dump truck crashes

• Rear-end collisions caused by dump-truck brake failure or following too closely
• Rollovers on freeway on-ramps and during sharp turns
• Load spills — rocks and debris striking following vehicles
• Crashes at construction-site entrances where trucks enter and exit public roads
• Dump-bed-up strikes — drivers raising the bed while under overhead power lines or overpasses

Who's liable in a dump truck case

• The driver — often an owner-operator, sometimes an employee
• The hauling company — usually a small fleet operator, sometimes underinsured
• The construction contractor — the company that hired the hauler to move materials to or from its site
• The materials supplier — the quarry, dirt pit, or yard where the truck was loaded — particularly if the truck was overloaded at their facility
• The project owner — in cases involving unsafe site practices
• Maintenance contractors — in brake-failure and tire-failure cases

Federal and state regulations that apply

• 49 CFR Part 393 — vehicle safety requirements including load securement (Subpart I)
• 49 CFR Part 395 — hours of service
• 49 CFR Part 391 — driver qualification requirements
• Texas Transportation Code §725.021 — requirements for covering loads to prevent spillage
• Texas Transportation Code Chapter 622 — size and weight limits