Overweight Trucks May Have To Pay Up Under Proposed Michigan Law

You might have heard about the recent Michigan House bill regarding overweight trucks. Sponsored by State Rep. Robert Kosowski (D-Westland), HB5453 was passed on May 8 by the state House and could translate into big fines for overeager or negligent companies. But what does this all mean? Is this just another needless law?

Let’s get some background on the concern before we unpack HB5453. You can ask any 10th grader to tell you about their latest physics lesson for the answer. An object with greater mass in motion has more energy than an object with less mass. In other words, bigger trucks can do more damage if they get into an accident. They can also damage Michigan’s roads.

Of course, overloaded trucks are more likely to get into an accident as well since the greater weight makes it more difficult to stop or maneuver. This poses an avoidable risk to motorists throughout Michigan. This house bill aims to mitigate the risk by getting businesses to rethink over-packing their trucks.

Trucks can be overweight for a number of reasons. Companies hoping to move more material in less time can push the limits of the trucks, or shifting loads can mean that material gathers over a particular axle causing the truck to become unsafe to operate. Also, if there is not a scale handy, it’s easy to put more into a truck because it can fit without a thought given to the weight.

Ultimately, whatever the reason, the result of an overweight truck getting in an accident can be catastrophic. As Michigan truck accident attorneys, we think this law is a great idea. Consider the following statistic:

• In 2011, there were 10,885 accidents involving commercial trucks, 73 truck accident deaths and 1,903 truck accident injuries.
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The bill will hopefully get the attention of businesses by tapping on their wallets and, in the end, make Michigan roads that much safer! However, if you’ve been in a truck accident, call on Michigan’s truck accident lawyer: The Mike Morse Law Firm.

THE MIKE MORSE LAW FIRM

At The Mike Morse Law Firm, fighting to get you the maximum payout after a truck crash is job one. Our team of dedicated, hardworking attorneys will work tirelessly to give your case the attention it deserves and provide results. If you or a loved one has been injured in a truck crash, call us today at (855) MIKE-WINS and let our team of experienced attorneys fight for you.

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Content checked by Mike Morse, personal injury attorney with Mike Morse Injury Law Firm. Mike Morse is the founder of Mike Morse Law Firm, the largest personal injury law firm in Michigan. Since being founded in 1995, Mike Morse Law Firm has grown to over 200 employees, served 40,000 clients, and collected more than $1.5 billion for victims of auto, truck and motorcycle accidents. The main office is in Southfield, MI but you can also find us in Detroit, Sterling Heights and many other locations.