BARNEY INJURY LAW

Are Truck Drivers Encouraged to Speed?

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), roughly 95,000 people throughout the United States are hurt in commercial truck accidents each year.

Not only do trucking accidents happened more often, but they are much more dangerous than accidents involving average sized vehicles.

Speeding Truck Drivers Cause Deadly Accidents

With the huge dangers involved in truck driving, it is important for drivers to maintain a maximum level of safety.

However, speeding by truck drivers remains a problematic issue. According to a recent survey, the leading cause of trucking accidents was going too fast in relation to the road conditions.

About 20% of deadly truck accidents concerned speeding truckers. That means that speeding trucks kill about 800 people per year and cause many others to suffer severe injuries. A large truck going 70 miles per hour equals about the same force as a car going 400 miles per hour.

You have probably been stuck behind a truck that looks as if its driving slow, this is because most large trucking companies have installed special devices in the computer of the engine which limits the speed. These trucks are usually limited to 62 miles per hour and cannot go any faster.

Lowering highway speeds increases travel time and makes truckers spend more time on the road. Proposed regulations would require manufacturers to install trucks with speed limiting devices that would limit the maximum speed to 65 mph.

Truckers are Forced to Speed to Meet Deadlines

One of the main reasons that truck drivers tend to speed is because they are struggling to beat strict delivery deadlines. Trucking companies have a bad habit of scheduling extremely tight deliveries. These companies fail to take into account various circumstances such as weather, road conditions, construction, traffic, and/or mechanical problems.

Thus, in a way, many trucking companies are encouraging their truckers to speed. Companies essentially promote a concept of promptness over safety. Employers have to provide their truckers with enough time to meet all their deadlines without having to speed during the full duration of their trip. Additionally, when trucking companies pay truckers per mile, instead of hourly, it effectively increases their motivation to speed.

Truckers should obey the speed limits and drive at a safe speed when driving conditions are bad. Trucking companies can be held legally responsible for their drivers’ negligence. Trucking companies should only employ truckers who are well-trained and competent at driving safely.

Trucking companies are obligated to constantly make an effort to ensure that their drivers stay qualified. If a driver gets a ticket for speeding, the employer must take suitable disciplinary actions to discourage that behavior from continuing..

Contact an Experienced Truck Accident Attorney in Virginia Beach

When accidents involving a truck or large commercial vehicle occur, the injuries are often serious. Victims usually require costly and extensive medical care. Moreover, frequently truck accident victims are unable to perform work during their extensive recoveries. Financial problems, combined with both physical and emotional trauma, can make life challenging.

If you or a loved one has been involved in a truck accident in Virginia, you should contact a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible. Victims can take legal action and be compensated for all hospital bills, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other related expenses.

At the Law Office of Scott R. Barney, we possess the wisdom needed to help our clients in receiving the compensation they are owed. Our personal injury attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, which means you pay nothing unless we recover compensation for your damages. You can count on our elite team to get you the results you deserve. Call us today at (757) 296-8377 to discuss your truck driving accident in more detail.

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