Truck Accident Caused by Speeding Claim in Indianapolis, IN

Truck accident caused by speeding in Indianapolis

A large, speeding truck is a serious danger to everyone on the road. Semi-trucks are difficult to control because of their size and weight. They take much longer to slow down and stop than other vehicles. When truck drivers speed, they have a harder time maneuvering safely. This makes them more likely to rear-end vehicles in front of them.

If you’ve suffered injuries in a speeding truck accident, contact Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC right away. Our Indianapolis truck accident lawyers have been helping crash victims since 1999. We can help you seek compensation for your medical bills, lost income, and more. You don’t owe us any legal fee unless you receive compensation for your injuries. Contact us today for a free initial consultation.

Dangers and Consequences of Speeding

Speeding is one of the most common ways that semi-truck drivers break traffic laws. Drivers who speed have a harder time maintaining control of their vehicles. Speeding vehicles tend to cause greater injuries in accidents than slower-moving vehicles.

A semi-truck may weigh 20 or 30 times more than a sedan with a fully loaded trailer. Speeding makes a truck more likely to overturn if the cargo shifts as the truck rounds a curve. A speeding semi takes much more distance to stop, making it harder to avoid rear-end collisions.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding makes the safety equipment built into cars and trucks less effective. This is a major danger for anyone involved in a speeding truck accident.

Common Causes of Accidents When Truck Drivers Speed

Speeding trucks are more prone to crashes for several reasons, such as the following:

  • Longer stopping times – Trucks take a long time to stop because of how heavy they are. When trucks speed, their stopping distance increases. This makes it more likely that a speeding truck will collide with other vehicles.
  • Bad weather – A truck driver may need to drive below the posted speed limit in adverse weather conditions. A slippery road surface caused by rain, snow, or other precipitation can cause drivers to lose control. Truck drivers who speed in poor weather have difficulty keeping their vehicles straight and slowing down to avoid rear-end collisions. Trucks may drift into another lane, or they might not be able to stop in time to avoid vehicles in front of them.
  • Blind spots – Semi-trucks have large blind spots on all sides. This makes any vehicle located near the left-rear or right-rear areas of the truck vulnerable to sideswipe accidents. Truck drivers who are speeding may move improperly into an occupied adjacent lane. The driver of a smaller vehicle in the adjacent lane will have even less time to react to avoid a crash if a speeding truck tries to merge lanes.
  • Sharp curves – Trucks are more vulnerable to overturning while going around sharp curves because of their size and weight distribution. All truck drivers should slow down when navigating sharp curves. Otherwise, they might lose control or cause a rollover accident.
  • Shifting payloads – All cargo in the trailer should be distributed appropriately and secured to make the truck as safe to operate as possible. Too much weight in the wrong area can make a truck unstable. Loose cargo can cause the truck to overturn when going around sharp curves.
  • Hydroplaning — Hydroplaning occurs when a vehicle is driving on a wet road surface and loses traction, causing it to slide out of control. As speed increases, a vehicle’s traction decreases on wet roads. While hydroplaning can occur at lower speeds, it is more likely when vehicles are traveling at higher speeds. A hydroplaning truck can jackknife and cause a multi-vehicle accident.
  • Loss of control – Speeding makes it harder for drivers to control the vehicle. Even small adjustments on the steering wheel can cause a significant drift in a truck’s path at high speeds.

What Percentage of Car Accidents Are Caused by Speeding?

Speeding has consistently been shown as a major cause of motor vehicle accidents, including truck accidents. Here are a few facts about speeding accidents in Indiana and across the United States:

  • The National Safety Council reports speeding was a factor in about 26 percent of all traffic deaths nationwide in a recent year. A total of 9,478 people died from speeding that year, which averages to more than 25 people a day killed in speed-related accidents.
  • One multi-year study from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) found that driving too fast for the road conditions was a factor in approximately 23 percent of all truck accidents.
  • The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute reports that speeding trucks accounted for 4.7 percent of all vehicles involved in Indiana collisions that year.

Speed Limits, Laws, and Fines in Indiana

Indiana has strict speed limits for all drivers. Failure to follow traffic laws could lead to fines, the loss of driving privileges including the suspension of a commercial driver’s license (CDL), and other penalties. Some of Indiana’s speeding laws are as follows:

  • While drivers in passenger vehicles can drive up to 70 mph on certain interstates, trucks with a weight rating of 13 tons or more can only drive up to 65 mph. These maximum speed limits are reduced to 65 mph for passenger vehicles and 60 mph for large trucks in suburban areas.
  • Speeding drivers can be fined up to $500 for a first offense. The fines increase if a driver has a record of additional speeding tickets. Depending on a driver’s driving record, a speeding violation could lead to a driver’s license suspension for one to five years.
  • Drivers caught going more than 30 mph above the posted speed limits are considered driving recklessly in Indianapolis. The penalties for a first-time reckless driving offense are as follows:
  • A fine of up to $1,000
  • Up to 180 days in jail
  • A one-year driver’s license suspension
  • Having to attend traffic school
  • Information from the state government says commercial truck drivers can have their CDL suspended for 60 days if they are convicted twice of exceeding the speed limit by 15 mph or more. A third conviction can result in a 120-day suspension.

Types of Evidence You Can Use to Establish the Truck Driver Was Speeding

One of the most important jobs of a speeding truck accident lawyer is finding evidence showing the at-fault driver is liable for your injuries. Some evidence that is often used to show a truck driver was speeding includes the following:

  • Police accident reports — Police are generally required to investigate any truck accident involving injuries. Their investigation may note that the truck driver was speeding.
  • The truck’s electronic data recorder —Most trucks are now required to be built with electronic devices in the engine that measure the truck’s speed, direction, and other data. This data recorder may show that a truck driver was speeding when the crash occurred.
  • The truck driver’s logs — Truck drivers are required to keep logs of their stops as they are traveling. Comparing the time of the driver’s stops to the miles driven may show the driver was driving faster than the posted speed limit.
  • Forensic accident investigations — Specially trained investigators can look at an accident scene and determine if a truck was speeding prior to a collision. For example, the length of the tire’s skid marks can help indicate the truck’s speed.

Who Pays for Your Injuries After a Speeding Truck Accident?

If you can find evidence that a truck driver was speeding or driving carelessly when a crash occurred, you may be able to hold the driver liable for your injuries. You may file a claim against the truck driver’s liability insurance policy and the insurance of the company that owns the tractor-trailer. You might also have a claim against the vehicle’s manufacturer if a mechanical defect played any role in the crash.

With evidence and an experienced legal team, a speeding truck accident attorney can help you pursue compensation for the following:

  • Medical bills
  • Lost wages
  • Reduced future earning potential
  • Damaged personal property
  • Pain and suffering
  • Emotional distress

Talk to an Indianapolis Speeding Truck Accident Attorney Today

Did a speeding truck driver injure you? If so, turn to the Indianapolis speeding truck accident lawyers at Craig, Kelley & Faultless LLC for the experienced representation you need to rebuild your life after a serious accident. Call us at (800) 746-0226 or contact us online today for a free initial consultation.

Testimonial

“Krysten Lefavour, Esq. and Kim Proctor were great to work with on my case. They were able to obtain my past and present medical records, review my extensive treatment history, and settle my case in a timely matter. I greatly appreciate everything they did to get my case settled.”

Review by: Laura H.
Date published: June, 2022
Rating: ★★★★★ 5 / 5 stars