Commercial trucks are all over the highways, carrying cargo and merchandise from coast to coast. While most commercial truck drivers are responsible and take their job seriously, unfortunately, there are some truck drivers who drive irresponsibly. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, there were 4,311 large trucks and buses involved in fatal crashes in 2015, which was an eight percent increase from the previous year. In total that year, there were 415,000 reported crashes, and 83,000 of those resulted in injuries.
Commercial trucks vary in size, but they can weigh up to 80,000 pounds. Because of their massive size and weight, a truck driver who is driving irresponsibly can cause a lot of damage to any driver they get into an accident with. A driver who just so happens to be in the wrong place at the wrong time can have life-threatening or fatal injuries.
A speeding truck driver is a consistent cause of trucking accidents. This negligent driver’s decision to disobey speed limits and drive too fast can be life-altering for innocent drivers who happen to be nearby. However, if a trucker is driving too fast and causes an accident with someone else, the driver and their employer may be responsible for compensating the other party for their injuries.
A SPEEDING TRUCK DRIVER IS A CRASH RISK
Like any other driver on the road, a speeding truck driver is a crash risk. If a driver is going too fast on the road, it becomes increasingly difficult for them to stop in time if they approach a hazard or stop-and-go traffic. With a speeding truck driver, however, there can be infinitely more damage due to the massive amount of weight they have. Trucks are already difficult to stop when driving at the speed limit. Because there is so much cargo and weight, they need a considerable amount of distance to slow down. If they are speeding, it can greatly increase the chance that they cannot stop to prevent themselves from hitting another driver.
A speeding truck driver is a negligent truck driver. If you or a loved one has been involved in a car accident with a truck driver that was speeding, you can prove negligence even if the trucker was not ticketed for speeding by the police. A truck’s “black box” will show how fast the truck was moving as well as when it began to slow down prior to the collision.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident with a large commercial truck in Georgia, then you will need a personal injury attorney to help you navigate the legal system. Contact the Fry | Goehring in Atlanta today and someone will contact you shortly regarding your case.
