Roadway Debris from Trucks Makes Travel Risky in D.C.

Highways and roadways throughout Washington, D.C. are often filled with various types of commercial trucks. Even though 18-wheelers are restricted in many parts of the city, there are plenty of smaller trucks used to pick up trash, deliver food and household goods, carry out construction tasks, and so much more. It is extremely important for truck loading crews, maintenance teams, employers, and truck drivers to ensure that their cargo is secured at all times. Failure to do so could cause catastrophic injuries:

• In June 2023, a dump truck flipped over and spilled its debris onto a road in Southeast D.C. late at night. Once law enforcement and firefighters made it to the scene, the dump truck driver had already fled the accident scene. The road was closed while the debris was cleaned up.
• In May 2023, a pickup truck carrying metal struck the concrete wall on 495 in Bethesda, Maryland. The accident happened a little after noon, and three people were injured. The driver of the pickup truck did not have the metal securely loaded. When he crashed, the truck turned over onto its roof, and the metal debris flew onto the roadway.
• In March 2021, debris flew off a truck on D.C. 295 in Northeast Washington. The debris hit a vehicle, causing one person to suffer injuries.
• In March 2020, drivers spent hours in traffic on westbound I-695/Southeast Freeway after a truck spilled debris and diesel on the highways and roadways in Southeast Washington, D.C. This was the result of an overturned semi-truck that was hauling trash. The roads were cleaned up, and the truck driver was able to escape the overturned truck.

Why is an improperly or overloaded truck dangerous?

There are two primary dangers of an overloaded/improperly loaded truck. The first is cargo shifting.  When goods and products are not secure, they can shift within the truck during transit. If there is more weight on one side of the truck, there is a possibility that the truck could tilt and flip over during the drive, causing a truck rollover accident. The shift can also affect a trucker’s ability to control the vehicle because it can cause certain tires to lose traction, which can cause a rollover or a jackknife. Truck maintenance and loading crews are typically trained how to securely load a truck that ensures the driver’s safety as well as other individuals who share the roadways with them.

The second primary danger of improperly loaded and/or secured cargo is debris spills. These can be so dangerous that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has put several rules for ensuring that the cargo is safe and secure in semi-trucks. When a truck loses its cargo, drivers and passengers become harmed in various ways, such as:

• The cargo may fall off the truck and crush a smaller automobile, causing severe injuries to the driver and passengers inside.
• Debris that falls on the roadway from the truck can cause passenger vehicle drivers to swerve to try to avoid them, leading to a serious accident.
• Debris can block and alter a driver’s ability to see.
• All it takes is one product to fall off an overloaded or improperly loaded truck to cause a multi-car accident or pileup.
• The passenger vehicle may run off the road, veer into other lanes, hit a tree or oncoming traffic, run over a pedestrian, and more to try to avoid hitting falling debris.
• If drivers do hit the debris on the roadway, it could harm their car, cause a tire blowout, or even go through their windshield.

Types of debris most likely to spill in the Washington, D.C. area

While the Capital may not see as many big-rigs as other cities, this is a city in constant motion. As such, danger is most likely to come from smaller commercial vehicles (garbage trucks, construction vehicles, flatbeds, and so forth), though tanker spills are not uncommon. Falling or scattered debris that can cause serious harm includes:

• Construction materials like wood or metal
• Landscaping materials like gravel and living plants
• Produce
• Consumer goods
• Concrete
• Garbage
• HAZMAT such as oil or gas

There is also a risk from debris on the outside of the truck; every winter, trucks and cars traveling with snow on their roofs pose a danger to other drivers, pedestrians, cyclists, and motorcycle riders. (There is currently no law in D.C. about wiping off your car, but you should do it anyway.)

If you were involved in a debris-related truck accident due to improperly loaded cargo, it may be time to contact a lawyer and find out what your potential legal options are.

Where are commercial trucks restricted in Washington, D.C.?

Commercial truck drivers should know and be aware of the fact that they are not allowed to drive on certain roads in Washington, D.C. Some of these roads are:

• I-66 east of I-495
• Macarthur Blvd directly between Great Falls, MD and Sangamore Road
• Roosevelt Bridge
• Arlington Memorial Bridge
• Suitland Parkway in Maryland
• Baltimore-Washington Parkway
• Clara Barton Parkway
• Rock Creek Parkway and Beach Drive
• Spout Run Parkway

For a detailed guide of the roads where commercial trucks can or cannot drive in D.C., check out this map.

Six tips for truck drivers to remember when trying to secure their truck load

It may take a little extra time to make sure your truck load is safe and secure, but it is worth it to save lives or prevent catastrophic injuries. Here are six tips to remember when securing your truck load:

1. Use supplies such as nets or tarps to cover your items and keep them in place.
2. Never overload your truck.
3. Make sure that the items on your trailer or back of your truck are equally balanced. One side should not have more items than the other to prevent a rollover accident.
4. Consider using cables, ties, or ropes to tie down your products. This tip is great for heavy products.
5. If you have any lightweight or loose items that cannot be tied down, you should place them under heavier items to keep them in place.
6. Keep an eye on your load if possible. If necessary, you should stop your truck somewhere safe to check your load every so often to make sure nothing has shifted during the drive.

Please contact Paulson & Nace, PLLC through this contact form or by calling our office.