Although rare in Washington, truck accidents cause detrimental damage when they happen. In the last financial year, truck accidents contributed to more than 4,000 fatalities and 120,000 injuries in the United States. Speeding is not only hazardous for small vehicles but also trucks. Although commercial trucking works with tight deadlines, speeding is never the solution. When a truck driver is speeding in poor weather conditions, they might be unable to stop when they need to. Here’s all you need to know about trucks and speeding.
Causes of accidents among speeding truckers
Negligence is the leading cause of accidents involving speeding trucks. And when they happen, truck accidents lead to more catastrophic injuries than other motor vehicle accidents. This is due to the force generated by the truck’s high speed. Speeding trucks may also cause accidents due to:
- An inability to stop on time – Of course, trucks are longer and heavier than other vehicles on the road; hence they require more time to slow down. When speeding drivers try to slow down the truck hastily, there are high chances of an accident. Although the truck might not hit the car in front, the car behind will probably hit the truck.
- Poor weather conditions – Bad weather combined with speeding is very dangerous due to low visibility and/or slippery roads. When a truck driver chooses to speed under these conditions, their negligence could result in an accident. In some cases, this could be a multiple-car crash.
- Curves and blind spots – Unlike other vehicles, trucks have more blind spots. Thus, truck drivers can have difficulty observing blind spots if they are speeding. Missing blind spots can cause a severe accident. Also, while meandering curves, truck drivers need to be slow. Speeding will result in a jackknife accident with the trailer swinging all over the road.
Have you been involved in a trucking accident? It may be in your best interest to contact an attorney who can help with your case in court.
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