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compensation following an accident
illness or injury - nationwide
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Failing to correctly tie down a load which is being carried on a vehicle's roof rack could result in a car accident compensation claim.
However short a distance the driver is planning to travel, any load on the vehicle's roof should be correctly secured so that during the journey items do not fall off onto the highway and cause a car crash.
Before attaching any items to the roof rack, a motorist should check the maximum roof load permitted in the manufacturer's guide which came with their vehicle. This must include the roof rack itself.
After making sure that any items being loaded will not exceed the roof's weight limit, it is important to distribute the burden as evenly as possible across the roof. Heavier items should be placed closest to the roof, with lighter items on top. This will help keep the car's centre of gravity down and improve stability while driving.
A motorist should be aware that when the vehicle is moving, any items which are un-aerodynamic in shape or extend over the front of the roof could be lifted at the front by airflow. To avoid any dangerous movement from the load, drivers should make sure that the front of the cargo is tightly fastened down.
Road users should also remember that when braking, the roof rack load may slide forwards. In order to prevent this from occurring they should securely tie down the rear of the item.
Furthermore, drivers should be mindful that fixings will loosen over the journey and they should stop their vehicle somewhere safe at regular intervals in order to check, and if needed re-secure, fixings.
Ideally any load which is longer than the car itself will be carried by a more suitable vehicle. The Highway Code states that long loads "must not stick out dangerously" from the rear or front of the vehicle.
Car accident compensation for poorly fixed roof rack load
If you have been involved in a non-fault road traffic accident, which caused you personal injury, after another road user failed to correctly fix a load to their roof rack, we could help you make a compensation claim.
Contact YouClaim about receiving car accident compensation on 0800 10 757 95. Alternatively you could enter a few basic details about your case in a short online claim form or speak to an adviser using live help.
