Any collision involving a large commercial vehicle could result in severe injuries. When a truck driver fails to obey the speed limit and hits another vehicle, the results could be catastrophic.
Truck drivers have a duty to exercise reasonable care and caution behind the wheel. The decision to speed is a clear breach of that duty. If you or someone you love was injured in a crash caused by a speeding truck driver, contact an experienced truck accident lawyer right away for help.
For more than four decades, the Wilmington truck accident lawyers at Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, have sought justice for people in our community hurt due to someone else’s negligence. We offer a free, no-obligation consultation. When you hire us, you won’t pay us anything until we win your case.
Call us or reach out to us online now to speak with a member of our team.
What Is Speeding?
Driving faster than the posted or statutory limit is considered speeding. All drivers have a duty to maintain a safe and reasonable speed for the current conditions. In some circumstances, this might mean driving slower than the posted speed limit.
For example, on wet or icy roads, drivers should travel slower because their vehicles require more distance to come to a stop than they would on a dry road. Drivers should also slow down in adverse weather conditions that restrict visibility. Low visibility means drivers will have less warning approaching hazards or dangerous situations.
Why Speeding Is a Major Cause of Fatalities in Truck Accidents
Truck crashes can cause more severe injuries than other motor vehicle accidents. That is because the size and weight of commercial trucks mean they exert substantially more force in a collision than smaller passenger vehicles would.
When a truck is speeding, the force of impact in a crash can increase significantly. That means occupants in the smaller vehicle are at risk of suffering severe or potentially fatal injuries in a speeding truck crash.
What Are the Dangers When Truckers Speed in Wilmington?
When truckers speed on the roads and highways in and around Wilmington, they put themselves and everyone else on the road at risk. Speeding increases the likelihood a trucker will cause or be involved in a motor vehicle crash. Traveling faster than the posted speed limit can also make it harder for drivers to safely control their vehicles, especially in wet or slippery road conditions, high winds, or if a truck hits a road hazard like debris or a pothole.
Speeding also reduces the time and distance a truck has to slow down, stop, or maneuver to avoid a collision. Commercial trucks are not known for their maneuverability or quick stopping power. Truckers typically must plan for maneuvers that drivers of passenger vehicles could otherwise make in a split-second decision. By speeding, truckers give themselves less opportunity to avoid a collision because they have less time to maneuver.
A speeding truck will also hit with more force than one traveling the speed limit. Based on the physics, the force of impact will increase with the square of the increase in speed. That means if the truck’s speed doubles, it will hit with four times the force. If the speed triples, it will collide with nine times the force. A speeding truck will likely impart a significant force on impact, potentially injuring or killing people in the other vehicle.
Steps to Take after a Speeding Truck Accident
If you have been injured in a speeding truck accident in Wilmington, take the following steps to protect your rights and options for pursuing accountability and compensation:
- Seek medical attention as soon as possible. It’s essential to have a doctor check you for injuries from the crash. Make sure you follow all treatment instructions and recommendations completely.
- Take photos or videos of the accident scene. Helpful evidence could include the positions of the vehicles, damage sustained by the vehicles, visible injuries you suffered, skid marks or debris on the road, traffic signals and controls at the scene, and the weather, lighting, and traffic conditions at the time of the crash.
- Keep copies of bills and invoices for expenses incurred from the accident. Also, keep track of pay stubs or other income statements if you miss work because of your injuries or if you are disabled from being able to work.
- Keep a journal to document the pain and effects of daily functioning as you recover.
- Speak with a speeding truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after the accident. Time is limited to take legal action after a truck crash, so you’ll want to hire an attorney right away to guide you through the process of seeking compensation.
How Our Wilmington Lawyers Can Help You after a Speeding Truck Accident
While you are focused on recovering from your injuries after a collision caused by a speeding truck driver, let the lawyers at Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, go to work on your behalf by:
- Investigating the crash to recover potentially critical evidence, such as truck driver logs, truck electronic data recorder logs, surveillance and traffic camera footage, eyewitness statements, and police accident reports.
- Identify the parties who can be held liable for the accident and your injuries.
- Determining the amount of insurance coverage available to compensate you.
- Documenting your injuries and losses to ensure the pursuit of full compensation.
- Filing your claims with the at-fault parties and insurance companies
- Taking your case to court or trial and advocating your claims to try to secure the best possible result for you.
At Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, we are proud of our track record of success on behalf of our clients. If you’ve been hurt, we’re ready to stand up and fight for you. Our Wilmington truck accident lawyers are just a phone call or a click away. For a free consultation, call our office or reach out to us online.
