Waldorf, Maryland Speeding Truck Accident Attorneys

Lawyers for Truck Crashes Caused by Speeding in Waldorf

Speed limits are meant to protect everyone on the road. They prevent people from driving at unsafe speeds where they may lose control or be unable to slow down in time to avoid a collision. Speed limits are especially important for commercial trucks. A fully loaded 18-wheeler that is traveling at a high speed will transfer a huge amount of force into another vehicle in a truck accident. When a truck driver violates speed limits, they place everyone around them at risk.

At Farmer & Klopfer, our attorneys have the experience needed to help people who have suffered serious injuries in truck accidents caused by speeding. We are committed to helping our clients obtain the full compensation they deserve after being injured by negligent truck drivers. We can determine the role that speed played in a truck crash, and we will advocate aggressively during a case to ensure that a negligent truck driver will be held responsible for speeding.

Why Speeding Is Dangerous for Large Trucks

There are many reasons why speeding can lead to truck accidents and serious injuries, including:

Stopping Distance

When a commercial truck is fully loaded, it will require a great deal of distance to come to a complete stop. Stopping distance can increase on wet or icy roads, when a truck is carrying a heavy load, or when a truck experiences braking problems. When a truck driver is speeding, they will reduce the amount of time in which they will be able to react to hazards. They may be unable to prevent a collision in situations where traffic slows down suddenly.

Force of Impact

The force involved in a collision is based on the mass of a vehicle and the speed at which it is traveling. Commercial trucks are much larger and heavier than passenger vehicles. When a truck is traveling at a high speed, the force of impact can be massive, and other vehicles may not be able to absorb the energy involved in a collision. People in passenger vehicles that are struck by speeding trucks will be much more likely to suffer severe or catastrophic injuries.

Reduced Maneuverability

Large trucks are more difficult to control than other types of vehicles. When a truck is speeding, maintaining control will be even more difficult. At high speeds, minor mistakes can have devastating consequences. A truck driver who swerves suddenly may completely lose control, leading to a jackknife accident, rollover accident, or another type of dangerous truck crash.

Reasons Truck Drivers May Speed

In some cases, truck drivers may violate speed limits due to carelessness or impatience. However, they may also speed because of pressure to complete trips and deliver goods as quickly as possible. They will often need to meet tight delivery deadlines, and when they fall behind schedule, they may attempt to make up time by driving above the speed limit. In some cases, trucking companies may put schedules in place that a truck driver will not be able to meet when traveling within the speed limits and taking the required rest periods.

Some truck drivers may speed because they fail to understand what speeds are safe when operating a large, heavy vehicle. A driver who is used to driving on highways or open roads may not adjust correctly when driving on local roads or high-traffic areas. This may lead them to drive at unsafe speeds, and they may be unable to stop or maneuver in time to avoid an accident.

Proving That Speeding Was a Factor in a Truck Accident

One of the most important questions in any truck accident case is what caused the crash. Our attorneys can gather the evidence needed to show that speeding was a cause of an accident and that a truck driver acted negligently.

The systems on a truck capture important data about the truck's speed, acceleration, braking, and other factors. Reviewing this data can determine what happened in the minutes and seconds leading up to a crash, showing that a truck driver had violated speed limits, driven at an unsafe speed, or failed to brake in time to avoid a collision. Our lawyers can make sure this data will be obtained and preserved so that it can be used to demonstrate negligence.

Electronic logs may also provide information about a truck driver's activities. By reviewing a driver's hours of service records and driving patterns, we may be able to show that they had a history of unsafe behavior or that they were pressured into driving at dangerous speeds by a trucking company or dispatcher.

Our attorneys may also get statements from witnesses who saw that a truck driver was speeding or driving unsafely. We can obtain footage from highway cameras, security cameras, or other sources, which may show the speed at which a truck was traveling before a collision. Skid marks or other physical evidence at the scene of a truck accident may also help to establish that a truck driver was speeding.

Contact Our Waldorf, MD Speeding Truck Accident Attorneys

Severe injuries can occur in a truck accident in which a truck driver was speeding. Injury victims can take legal action to obtain compensation with the help of the team at Farmer & Klopfer. We have the experience and the investigative resources to ensure that these cases will be handled correctly. With our aggressive approach, we can fight to secure the compensation our clients need to move forward after suffering serious injuries. Contact our Waldorf speeding truck accident lawyers at 301-843-3890 to arrange a free consultation today.