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Truck Driver Speeding Accidents
Speeding semi-trucks cause bad accidents in South Carolina
Truck drivers often speed because their employers push them to meet specific deadlines. For many drivers, the more deliveries they can make, the more money they earn. Finishing shipments ahead of schedule can mean that drivers have more time to themselves during the day and can get back home earlier. Speeding trucks comes with a dangerous price. Speeding is a major cause of truck accidents in South Carolina. At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, we have the experience and advocacy skills to prove the truck driver who struck you was speeding. Our truck accident lawyers demand compensation for all your injuries. We also file wrongful death claims if a loved one died due to a speeding driver.
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Why is speeding while driving a truck so dangerous?
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that speeding contributed to more than 11,000 deaths nationwide in 2020. Most rigs, tractor-trailers, semis, and other large trucks are commercial motor vehicles (CMVs). Driving a CMV at a high speed is more difficult than driving a car at a similar speed because trucks accelerate (and decelerate) slower. Commercial trucks need more time to stop and require longer braking distances.
The South Carolina Department of Public Safety reports that speeding is one of the top five causes of fatal traffic accidents.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding was a contributing factor in 29% of all traffic crashes. Speeding doesn’t just mean traveling above the posted speed limit. Speeding also includes driving too fast for traffic or weather conditions.
The dangers of speeding for all vehicles including trucks include:
- An increased likelihood of losing control of the truck. Trucks that speed are especially hard to control in curves, on wet roads, when road surfaces are irregular, and when emergencies occur.
- The need for more distance to stop. Speeding truck drivers have less time to anticipate, recognize, and respond to emergencies. Trucks need more time to stop than cars due to their weight. Speeding increases the time and distance the driver needs to safely stop.
- Increased crash severity, which causes more serious and deadly accidents. The velocity of the vehicles involved in a truck accident affects the force of the impact of any collision.
- Reduced reliability of seatbelts and airbags. Safety devices are generally designed to work within specific speed ranges. When seatbelts and airbags fail, the occupants of the truck are more likely to die or suffer serious injuries.
Speeding is especially dangerous when trucks navigate curves or have a fully loaded truck. The dangers are that the truck could roll over or jackknife.
Trucks that speed are more likely than cars to cause catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, amputation injuries, and spinal cord damage because the size and weight of most trucks are no match for cars or SUVs. The force of the impact is multiplied the faster a truck is traveling. Many truck speeding accidents are fatal.
Why do truck drivers speed?
According to the NHTSA, some of the reasons truck drivers speed include:
- Traffic congestion. When the lanes of travel are clogged, some truck drivers swerve in and out of lanes or speed in order to maneuver around the congestion.
- Lateness. Trucking companies want their shipments delivered on time. There are loading dock schedules and other schedules to meet. When drivers are running late, they’re more likely to speed.
- More money. For some truck drivers, the more deliveries they can make in a day or a week, the more money they earn. This incentivizes speeding for these drivers. Some drivers are paid by the mile, which also incentivizes speeding.
- The trucks themselves. Some truck drivers speed just because they like being in the faster lanes instead of the exit lanes.
- Driver distraction. Some drivers are so focused on texting, talking on the phone, drinking, or eating that they don’t realize that they’re speeding. Distracted drivers may also not know what the actual speed limit is. Distracted drivers in South Carolina may also not know that there’s construction work ahead or that they need to drive below the speed limit for other reasons.
- Youth. Young drivers are more apt to speed because they have less experience and maturity than older truck drivers.
- Driving while intoxicated or fatigued. Drunk drivers and tired drivers may also not realize that they’re speeding.
What types of truck accidents does speeding cause?
Speeding is often a direct or contributing factor in many types of truck wrecks in South Carolina, including:
- Rear-end accidents
- Head-on accidents
- Broadside accidents
- Intersection collisions
- Passing and merging crashes
Many of these accidents occur because the driver’s high speed doesn’t provide enough time to react to emergencies or any vehicles near the truck. These truck accidents also occur because speeding drivers fail to see stop signs, traffic signals, and other roadside warnings.
Who is liable when a truck driver speeds?
When truck drivers speed, other defendants may also be liable. Our South Carolina truck accident lawyers file claims against all responsible defendants, including:
- The truck driver’s employer
- The trucking companies involved in the shipment including the truck broker, the company that sent the delivery, and the company that requested the driver
- A seller of alcohol to a truck driver who was visibly intoxicated when served or a minor when served who later caused the truck accident.
- A truck manufacturer if the speedometer, seatbelts, airbags, or other truck parts either contributed to the accident or failed to prevent the injuries from occurring (or being so severe/fatal).
- The South Carolina Department of Transportation or other state or local agencies or governmental entities for failing to properly design the road including posting safe speed limits or failing to maintain the road and traffic signals.
Our results in truck accident cases
Our record of awards and settlements for truck accident victims in South Carolina includes:
- A $19 million settlement for a family whose loved one died in a head-on crash with a truck.
- A $4.25 million result for the family of a young child who was killed by a tractor-trailer passing a school bus.
- A $2.3 million result for an estate when the decedent was killed by a commercial truck driver who ran a stop sign.
- A $2.065 million result for a client who was injured due to a defective truck part.
Do you have a speeding truck accident lawyer near me?
We meet clients and families at our locations throughout South Carolina. These locations include:
We can answer all your questions, explain your rights, and fight for all the compensation you deserve.
We also serve clients throughout the State of South Carolina in all 46 counties, including Sumter, Anderson, Orangeburg, Hilton Head, Aiken, and Spartanburg.
If you’re physically unable to come to our office, we can meet you at your home or a healthcare facility. We also consult with clients by phone and through video conferences.
Speak with an experienced South Carolina truck accident lawyer today
There’s no excuse for speeding. At McGowan, Hood, Felder & Phillips, LLC, our personal injury lawyers hold truck drivers and trucking companies accountable when they place their profits above your safety. Our truck accident lawyers demand compensation for all your medical bills, lost income, pain and suffering, property damage, and other damages. We also file wrongful death actions. Call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation.