Speeding is dangerous driving behavior and comes with many terrible consequences for drivers and others on the road. It can make it easier for a driver to lose control of a vehicle and harder to stop in time when they sense a danger. When a crash occurs, high speeds can make the damage even more devastating for vehicles and for people.

Truck accidents can result in serious harm when the driver has been speeding. Those in the other vehicle might have life changing injuries or even loss of life. Large vehicle crashes can have especially devastating effects when they involve passenger vehicles or other small trucks on the road.

Drivers might not have a full understanding of how speed impacts the risk of a crash. They might also not realize how speeding can make a crash more severe, especially when a truck or heavy vehicle is involved.

Speed can combine with other factors to result in crashes that can change a person’s life forever. Let’s look at what excessive speed and a speeding truck accident can do on the road. 

How Speeding Affects Stopping Distances

When a driver speeds, it impacts the stopping distance. The stopping distance is the number of feet or meters a vehicle will cover before it stops moving. This distance takes into account that length or area of road from the time a driver decides to stop and when the truck actually halts. The greater this distance, the more likely a truck will hit the object or vehicle it was trying to avoid by stopping. 

The stopping distance has two parts: thinking distance and braking distance.

• Thinking distance: This is the amount of distance covered by a vehicle from the point a driver senses a danger to the time they react by hitting the brakes. Thinking distance can be impacted by driver distraction, visibility, alcohol, drugs, and fatigue. It is also influenced by speed, as the faster the car is going the most distance it can cover. 
• Braking distance: This is the amount of distance covered by a vehicle after the driver hits the brakes and before the truck comes to a stop. Braking distance is impacted by speed and road conditions. It’s also impacted by the size and condition of the vehicle. A heavy truck will cover more distance than a light vehicle. Worn tires or brakes can also mean it takes longer to stop.

Speed is therefore an important factor in stopping distance, but it’s not the only factor. The faster a truck is moving, the greater the distance the truck travels before it comes to a stop. Importantly, it also exacerbates other factors that impact stopping distance like road conditions and driver behavior.  

Comparison of Truck vs. Passenger Vehicle Accidents

There are many reasons why a truck accident can become more serious than a passenger vehicle accident. Both kinds of accidents can be devastating. But because of the size of a tractor-trailer or other large truck, the damage upon impact with another vehicle or object can be substantial. 

Some major factors that elevate the severity of a crash are:

Size and weight of truck: In a crash between a heavy truck and a lighter vehicle, those in the lighter vehicle generally experience more serious damage, both to the vehicle and in personal injury.

Location of the crash: Large vehicles like those engaged in interstate commerce might be driving on highways that have high traffic volumes. More vehicles on the road can mean more cars are vulnerable to the impact of a collision.

Securement of cargo: A large truck carrying cargo can cause damage to people, vehicles, and the environment if that cargo is hazardous or not properly secured. If it becomes free of the truck during a crash, it can increase the severity of the event. 

Causes of Truck Accidents Related to Speeding

Speed alone is a hazard on the road and a speed-related crash can be devastating. There are other factors that can make the consequences of speeding even more serious in a truck accident. These are among the common causes of commercial truck accidents: 

Driver Behavior and Attentiveness

A driver who is speeding might also be acting in a way that jeopardizes safety on the road. Speeding alone can increase stopping distance, so a big truck covers a greater distance before coming to a stop. But behaviors can also slow reaction time, increasing the travel distance of the truck before the driver decides to brake.

Some risky behaviors include:

• Distracted driving
• Driving while fatigued
• Driving after too many hours on the road
• Driving while texting
• Driving while using a mobile device
• Driving while under the influence of alcohol or drugs

These all make the driver less attentive and less able to stop a potential crash by braking quickly. 

Environmental Factors and Road Conditions

Other factors also combine with speed to impact stopping distance. Environmental factors such as snow, rain, wind, sleet, or ice can impact visibility. This can mean there’s a delay before the truck driver knows they should brake. 

Weather can also impact road conditions, making the surface wet, slippery, or icy. Even when brakes stop the tires from moving, a heavy truck might continue to slide. It can slide especially far with the momentum of high speeds. 

Slick road conditions can also cause the driver to lose control of the truck, which can pivot and turn, putting all other vehicles in the area at risk of a collision. 

Vehicle Maintenance Issues

Speed is also especially risky when a large truck has maintenance issues. Worn brakes can cause delays in stopping time and increase braking distance. Worn tires can make it harder for the vehicle to gain enough traction to prevent sliding and weaving on the road. These are directly connected to stopping distance, but there are other maintenance issues as well.

Hazard lights that fail to work can result in other traffic coming too close to the larger vehicle, which might result in a crash from behind when the truck comes to a sudden stop. Missing or broken rearview mirrors can limit driver visibility, which means they might not react in time to prevent a crash once they see a hazard. 

Legal Implications of Speeding-Related Truck Accidents

There are legal consequences for people who are responsible for speeding-related truck accidents. Because of the serious nature of these collisions, the law has several possible ways that crash victims can get compensation. Speaking with a lawyer can help you determine who’s at fault in a commercial vehicle accident and decide on next steps. 

Liability of Truck Drivers

Truck drivers who cause vehicle damage or injury to others on the road might face personal legal responsibility. The liability depends on the details of the accident and the driver’s actions when it occurred. The driver might face civil penalty, which means you might be able to take legal action against them personally. 

Responsibility of Trucking Companies

Truck drivers — in particular those who operate large commercial vehicles — are on the road in the course of their employment. The responsibility to keep others safe on the road while these trucks are in operation extends to their employers. 

Therefore, you can sue the trucking company if their driver caused the accident. 

Consequences for Victims of Truck Accidents

Anyone who has experienced a truck accident knows the potential for mental and physical harm. It’s also likely the passenger vehicle has suffered irreparable damage. If you have been involved in a truck accident, you’re not alone. Others have experienced sometimes life-altering injuries and financial losses because of this serious event. 

Types of Injuries Commonly Sustained

When a truck strikes another vehicle, in particular a passenger vehicle, the injuries can be lifelong. Even when recovery is possible, it can take some time for people to get better physically and emotionally after the event. Among the injuries people experience are:

• Brain and spinal cord injuries
• Head and neck injuries
• Broken bones and fractures
• Burns and abrasions
• Limb loss or amputation
• Whiplash
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

For some people, it can take weeks or even months for the full extent of their injuries to become visible. Doctors don’t always know right away how serious a traumatic brain injury (TBI) might be or how long it might take to heal. In some cases, it’s necessary to adjust to a new normal. 

Unfortunately, truck accidents can also result in loss of life. When this happens, families and friends are left grieving. Not only do they miss the companionship of their loved one, but they have the added burden of knowing a serious accident was the cause. 

Financial Losses and Compensation Challenges

The impact of serious injury or fatality is devastating alone. Often, people have the added challenge of financial losses because of a truck accident. Individuals suddenly have to encounter medical bills, insurance paperwork, and time off work. All while they are still in the midst of physical and mental recovery. 

If you work with a legal team, you might be able to get help to recover these losses. By trusting a law firm that focuses on personal injury, you can get an advocate for your individual needs. A law firm can speak to insurance companies on your behalf and take over much of the administrative burden. If a lawsuit is appropriate, a lawyer can discuss that option with you and help you proceed if you so choose.

Some financial losses common with a truck accident are:

• Hospital care
• Rehabilitation care
• Prescription drugs
• Mobility aids
• Rehabilitative therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Home modifications to support mobility (such as wheelchair ramps)
• Loss of current income
• Loss of future income
• Pain and suffering

If you have lost a loved one in a truck accident, it might be possible to file a wrongful death claim. The law usually only allows certain family members to file a wrongful death suit and the law varies from state to state. If a lawsuit goes ahead, you might be able to get financial compensation. Among the factors a court might look at to determine compensation are:

• Your loved one’s age 
• Your loved one’s income and future earning capacity
• The expenses incurred because of their passing
• The value of any lost benefits such as health insurance or retirement accounts

There’s no amount of money that can replace the person you lost. But compensation might be able to help ease your pathway forward.

In the aftermath of a truck accident, the details can be overwhelming. A law firm can help you to sort through what’s happened so you can take the next steps toward recovery. 

Final Thoughts: Safety Tips for Preventing Speeding in Trucks

As people continue to drive every day on the roads and highways, it’s vital that everyone contribute to a safe environment. That includes preventing speeding in trucks. Accidents with large vehicles cause serious harm, changing the lives of everyone involved forever. But together we all can reduce the risk. 

Here are some important tips for everyone on the road:

Follow posted speed limits. It might feel like there’s little risk in going a bit faster than the posted speed, but it’s only a matter of seconds for a crash to happen. Drivers should stay present and aware of their current driving speed, looking at their speedometer regularly. By staying present and avoiding distraction, there’s a better chance a driver can stop in time to stop a collision before it occurs. 

Train and educate truck drivers. Operators of truck drivers have a difficult job. They frequently have to manage large loads and travel long distances. Training on how to stay alert and attentive while driving can help them to stay safe on the job. Education about the consequences of speeding — such as prolonged stopping distances — can increase awareness of the risks. 

If you are looking to talk about your truck accident with a lawyer, contact Morris Dewett Injury Lawyers today. Attorneys are here to guide you through the entire process. You don’t need to face your future alone.