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Speeding on the roadways can increase the potential of an accident. However, it becomes significantly more hazardous when a large commercial truck, 18-Wheeler, or tractor-trailer is driving it dangerous speeds. The massive weight of a speeding truck shortens the time that the trucker can react to stop the heavy vehicle in time. The braking distance required when transporting a vehicle with extra weight mandates that the trucker drives at or below the speed limit.
Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC assists motorists who have been injured in accidents with speeding trucks in and around the Chicagoland area. Our Illinois truck accident attorneys are ready to move quickly to investigate your case. Complete our online case review sheet, and an attorney will contact you immediately to discuss your compensation claim without any cost or obligation to you.
Often, truck drivers are tempted to maintain a strict schedule, or only make money by the load or mile. Because of that, truckers will regularly engage in highly aggressive driving behaviors including exceeding the posted speed limit. Statistics from the FMSCA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration) indicate that driver error and excessive speeding cause the high majority of trucking accidents.
Also, improperly maintained commercial trucks or inadequate training could place truckers in an impossible situation of driving recklessly at high speeds, to make up time, to deliver their goods on schedule. Drivers willing to operate the commercial vehicle erratically at high speeds often produce a high number of speeding truck accidents.
Factors to Consider in Collisions Involving Speeding Trucks
While driving reckless at high speeds is the leading cause of a commercial vehicle accident, other serious factors can be involved in a speeding truck collision. These include:
- Driver fatigue
- Texting or talking on a mobile device while driving
- Lane drifting
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Load shifting
- Improperly loaded vehicles
- Wide angle turns
Establishing How & Why A Trucking Accident Occurred With a Speeding Vehicle
Truck drivers and trucking companies will use a variety of strategies as a way to deflect responsibility of determining which parties caused the accident. Many truckers claim it was impossible to see a vehicle following too close behind, or tell law enforcement they were cut off by a motorist. Victims suffering severe injuries in a trucking accident are often left with hiring a skilled attorney to file a claim or lawsuit against all the responsible parties.
Fortunately, skilled trial attorneys that specialize in commercial truck accidents can use a variety of tactics to reconstruct the scene of the collision. The attorneys will hire a team of investigators to interview witnesses and collect information including maintenance schedules, odometer mileage, fuel receipts, and logbooks, along with the truck’s black box recorder and GPS data. All of this data, photographic evidence, documentation and witness testimony can be used to build an effective strategy for obtaining adequate financial compensation for their client.
Calculating Economic & Non-Economic Losses Related To Injuries Sustained In A Truck Accident
The sheer size and weight of a commercial vehicle involved in a collision can usually produce catastrophic injuries to other motorists and passengers. As a result, it often requires the skills of an experienced attorney who specializes in personal injury cases to calculate the victim’s losses accurately. Their efforts will ensure that their client receives enough recompense to cover a variety of expenses including:
- Ongoing medical bills
- Funding for any future physical therapy, rehabilitation, and additional surgeries
- Lost wages due to missed work as a result of the accident
- The lost potential of wage earnings in the future due to injury
- Pain & suffering
- Funeral and burial costs for a wrongful death
Holding Negligent Parties Responsible For A Truck Accident Where Speeding is Involved
Even though it might be determined that the truck driver was at fault, there may be additional responsible parties involved. If the victim’s attorney can conclude that the truck driver was inadequately trained, or that the truck was not properly maintained, the trucking company may be held responsible along with the truck driver.
Also, it may be determined it was a product defect that caused the accident. The injuries might be the result of a faulty tire, bad breaks, or another component in the truck that caused the driver to lose control. A skilled attorney will determine all responsible parties to ensure that every individual an entity at fault is held accountable for their actions or inactions.
Hiring an attorney to handle an injury claim or lawsuit in a speeding truck accident in Chicago, Illinois is crucial. Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC at (888) 424-5757 can provide an evaluation of the case to file a claim for an out-of-court settlement, or lawsuit for an award at trial. The dedicated attorneys will offer numerous legal options for their client, to ensure they receive their deserved financial compensation. Contact us today!
