Most of the time people move from one home to another without incident. They fill up and unpack their moving trucks without losing or damaging anything. However, accidents do occur. While some are unavoidable, the majority of them are preventable in one way or another. Here are a couple of crazy moving accidents that have occurred and what you can do to avoid them when you relocate.

Trucks vs. Overpasses

There are places in the United States where bridges and overpasses either predate the rise of large trucks or just weren't built very tall and, consequently, are too low for most large vehicles to safely pass under. Although there may be signs all around warning of low clearance, that doesn't stop people from trying their luck and getting into accidents as a result.

One such accident involving a moving truck was caught on tape by the owners of the website 11foot8, which is dedicated to capturing video of trucks crashing into a low-clearance railroad trestle located in Durham, NC. In a clip posted on YouTube, the truck attempts to pass under the trestle and ends up having its top peeled off like the lid of a sardine can.

To avoid this type of accident when you move, ask about the clearance height of the truck you're renting if you're moving your belongings yourself. The height will vary depending on the length of the vehicle. For instance, a 10-foot-long truck will be about 10-feet tall, while a 26-foot-long truck will be about 13.6-feet tall. This will help you determine if the height listed on a low-clearance sign is tall enough for your truck or if you need to take an alternate route.

Another thing you can do is download an app that identifies low-clearance locations you may encounter on the road. Though many of these apps are geared towards RV drivers, they can be very helpful if you're moving long-distance in a moving truck as well.

Be aware, though; not all apps will integrate with your navigation system. So you may need to do some extra route planning before you hit the road.

Furniture vs. Physics

It's not unusual for people with trucks or large SUVs to transport furniture and appliances to their homes. Problems arise, though, when they fail to secure the items they're transporting. In a caught-on-tape clip uploaded to the FAILVlog YouTube channel, a person captures the moment an unsecured piano flips over the side of a truck as the driver makes a right-hand turn. Another clip shows the scary instance when an unsecured mattress flies out of a truck while the person was driving down the highway.

The lesson here is that the laws of physics apply at all times, so you should make the effort to strap down your belongings if you choose to transport them in a regular open-bed truck—even if you're only driving a short distance.

However, it's important that you use the right materials to secure your items. Bungee cords and rope may be okay in a pinch, but they might not be strong enough to hold furniture, appliances, or other heavy items if you have to come to a sudden stop or swerve. The best thing you can use is heavy-duty ratchet straps. There are different types with varying levels of load and break strength (e.g. ones that can hold 1,000-pound load in place or sustain 3,000-pounds of pressure without breaking), so look for straps that are strong enough to fit your items.

For items that aren't very heavy but still may fly out of the truck bed when you're traveling at high speeds (e.g. box of linens), you may want to cover the items with a tarp or cargo netting. These covers typically come with hooks or snaps to help secure them in place. However, you may want to reinforce the load using bungee cords or rope.

For more moving safety tips or help with relocating, contact a moving company in your area, such as Smith Dray Line.

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