When a truck driver is speeding, the impact of a crash can be devastating. Trucks are already heavy and challenging to maneuver, and traveling at high speeds only makes it harder to steer or stop in time to avoid accidents. Understanding the dangers of speeding in truck accidents is essential for preventing these crashes and holding negligent drivers accountable. For more information, contact our Washington, D.C. truck accident attorneys at Lightfoot Law, PLLC.
Common Types of Truck Accidents Caused by Speeding
Speeding can turn an already dangerous situation into a life-threatening event, especially when large commercial trucks are involved. Below are some of the most common truck crash types linked to excessive speed:
Rear-End Collisions
When a truck driver travels at unsafe speeds, it becomes much harder to hit the brakes in time to avoid slower traffic. This often leads to rear-end collisions, which can have devastating effects due to the immense force of a large truck striking a smaller vehicle.
Jackknife Accidents
If a truck driver loses control due to speeding, the trailer can swing toward the cab, creating a sharp angle that looks like a folding knife. This sudden movement may block multiple lanes of traffic, endangering everyone around and causing severe pileups.
Rollover Accidents
Speeding while taking sharp turns or driving on curves makes a truck more prone to rolling over, because the trailer can easily tip if the driver doesn’t slow down. Rollovers are especially hazardous on highways and around tight bends, often resulting in serious injuries or fatalities.
Lane Departure Accidents
Excessive speed can make it easier for a driver to drift into other lanes or off the road, especially when traffic slows or a turn comes up unexpectedly. These sudden lane departures can lead to head-on crashes or sideswipes that cause severe damage to other vehicles.
T-Bone Collisions
Drivers who speed often misjudge safe crossing times at intersections or cannot stop in time at a red light. This miscalculation puts the side of a smaller vehicle at risk if the truck strikes it, likely causing major injuries for the people inside.
If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident caused by speeding, reach out to an experienced accidnet attorney to discuss your legal options.
How Speeding Impacts Truck Crashes
Speeding often makes truck crashes far more destructive, creating devastating outcomes for everyone involved. Below are several ways speeding can affect the damages and injuries when these large vehicles are on the road:
- Shorter Reaction Time: Driving too fast leaves truckers little room to maneuver or brake if they encounter sudden hazards, increasing the likelihood of severe collisions.
- Greater Impact Force: When a heavy truck collides at high speed, the force is much higher than at lower speeds, leading to catastrophic vehicle damage and life-altering injuries.
- More Extensive Injuries: High-speed crashes can cause severe spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries, and multiple fractures, resulting in long-term medical treatment and rehabilitation.
- Escalating Medical Expenses: Victims often require immediate emergency care, surgery, and lengthy rehabilitation, leading to soaring healthcare costs that can strain families financially.
- Higher Risk of Fatalities: With the truck’s massive size and momentum, speeding collisions can be fatal, placing not just the driver but also other road users in extreme danger.
If you or someone you love has been injured in a truck accident caused by speeding, consider reaching out to a professional personal injury lawyer in Washington, D.C. to discuss your legal rights. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.