Louisiana Speeding Truck Accident Lawyers

Large trucks are a vital part of the American economy, and a common sight on the roadways, highways, and Interstates of our nation. However, their size and bulk means that they can pose a big risk to passenger cars when involved in a wreck.

If you or someone you love was injured in a truck accident due to the truck driver speeding, call the experienced truck accident lawyers at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys for a free consultation. We’re committed to our clients, and can help you get the compensation you need to heal from your injuries and move on with your life.

Facts About Truck Accidents Involving Speeding

Big truck accidents can be especially dangerous, and are more likely to cause serious injury or even death. The main reason for this increased danger is trucks’ considerable size and weight, which can lead to devastating damage in a collision. In 2018 alone, 151,000 people were injured in large truck accidents, and over 4,900 died as a result of a semi-truck collision.

Louisiana law defines a top speed limit of 75 mph for trucks on rural interstates, and 70 mph for urban interstates and other access roads. However, in inclement weather and other more dangerous highway conditions, all drivers should drive only as fast as is safe to do so. This admonition applies even more strongly to truck drivers, whose vehicles are already much more dangerous than passenger cars.

Why Is It so Dangerous for Truck Drivers to Speed?

Even when not speeding, big rigs take more time to slow down, stop, or maneuver, due to their size and weight. Therefore, when a truck driver speeds, those dangers multiply considerably, and put everyone on the highway at an increased risk for collision.

Trucks are harder to stop

Due to their larger mass, trucks have more momentum, meaning it takes them much longer than passenger cars to slow down or stop. Speeding exacerbates the issue, giving a truck driver even less time to react to sudden changes in the traffic pattern ahead of them.

Trucks also collide with greater force than passenger cars, even when driving at regular speeds. When speeding, the effect is heightened further—making a speeding truck a recipe for absolute disaster, even in a rear-end collision.

Trucks have bigger blind spots

Due to their physical size and construction, trucks have much larger blind spots than other vehicles. Many trucks have warnings on their trailers or cabs to stay out of the truck’s no-zone, which includes wide swaths of each side of the truck, as well as large areas behind and in front of it.

A speeding truck driver is more likely than one following the speed limit to weave through traffic, putting them at greater risk of collision due to missing a car in their blind spot. These side collisions can be deadly for the other vehicle involved, and stop traffic on the highway for hours.

Trucks are less maneuverable

Because of their size and length, trucks are harder to maneuver through turns and in traffic. A speeding truck driver might take a turn too quickly, leading them to lose control of the truck. They might even jackknife, or cause the trailer to become perpendicular to the truck’s cab.

Trucks drive on all road conditions

All drivers should practice increased caution when driving in inclement weather, such as rain, snow, ice, or high winds. Truck drivers should take extra care in these hazardous conditions—even if they drive the posted speed limit, they can more easily lose control of the truck, or take much longer to stop or slow down due to the weather.

Trucks’ loads can shift while speeding

Trucks can be loaded with tons of cargo. If that cargo shifts during transit, the sudden shift in weight can cause the driver to lose control. When speeding, both the likelihood that the load will shift and the likelihood that a driver will lose control if the load does shift are heightened.

Trucks’ parts can fail while speeding

All automobiles have parts that eventually fail, either due to wear and tear, manufacturing errors, or improper maintenance. Speeding exacerbates the wear and tear on a truck’s parts, leading to an increased risk of catastrophic failure on vital parts such as brakes. Speeding can also magnify issues stemming from part failures on the road, making the driver more likely to cause a major traffic accident.

How Can a Truck Accident Lawyer Help My Case?

If you’ve been injured by a speeding truck, consult with a speeding truck accident lawyer as soon as possible. Truck accident claims can be incredibly complex, due to the multiple parties involved and their insurance companies, who often try to avoid paying or pay as little as possible.

A truck accident attorney can investigate your claim and determine if speeding was a factor in the accident. An experienced truck wreck lawyer can also help you determine who is liable for the accident, as well as how much you can expect in compensation for your injuries and other damages.

Proving That the Truck Driving Was Speeding

Proving a truck driver was speeding at the time of impact can be difficult, but can be made easier by securing data from recording devices many trucks have installed. These devices are similar to the black boxes on airplanes, and record aspects of the truck’s operation, including speed.

Your truck lawyer can help you get this data by sending the operator a spoliation letter, informing them of your claim and demanding evidence pertaining to the accident. They can also arrange for expert supervision during data transfer to ensure its provenance.

Determining Who’s Liable for the Speeding Truck Accident

The question of liability in a commercial truck wreck case can be extremely complex, partly due to the number of parties involved: the truck driver, the trucking company they work for, the owner of the truck, the truck’s manufacturer, the loading company, and the owner of the cargo on board might all hold some share of the liability.

A truck accident lawyer can investigate your accident and determine who’s likely the liable party for your injuries during discovery, or the gathering of evidence. An experienced lawyer will also know where to look for necessary evidence to help your case, and advise you on what you can expect based on the gathered evidence.

Negotiating with the Insurance Company

Truck insurers usually offer victims of tractor-trailer wrecks much less compensation than what their claim is worth, in an attempt to settle the claim quickly and cheaply. These insurers know that victims need funds fast to pay medical bills and other expenses, and hope that a quick, small settlement will save them money in the long run.

However, the truck accident lawyers at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys know your case is usually worth much more than you’re being offered by the insurance company. We can investigate your claim and use the facts we find to strengthen your case, and we can take that evidence to the insurance companies to negotiate a better settlement. If insurance still won’t budge, we can even take your case to court to argue for your rights in front of a judge.

When Should I Call a Truck Speeding Accident Lawyer?

You should call a truck accident lawyer as soon as possible after your accident, so we can get started on your case.

Statute of Limitation Changes in Louisiana

In 2024, Louisiana law extended the statute of limitations for personal injury claims occurring on or after July 1, 2024, from one year to two years. Any injuries that occurred before July 1, 2024, will still have a 1-year statute of limitation. Learn more about Louisiana’s New Statute of Limitations here.

• 1 year for injuries sustained before July 1, 2024.
• 2 years for injuries suffered after July 1, 2024.

The statute of limitations is a legal deadline that sets a time frame for filing a lawsuit. In Louisiana, this is known as the “prescriptive period,” which determines how long you have to take legal action against the responsible party after an injury occurs.

Call the Truck Wreck Injury Lawyers at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys

As soon as you’re able, call the truck wreck injury attorneys at Gordon McKernan Injury Attorneys so we can start finding you the funds you need to heal. When you give us a call at 888.501.7888, you’ll receive a free consultation from a knowledgeable truck accident lawyer about the specifics of your truck accident case, and we’ll get started right away getting the evidence and building your case.

We’re so confident we can win your case that we offer the G Guarantee: you don’t pay a dime until we win. We consider our clients our family, and will do everything in our power to help you find the compensation you deserve after a traumatic truck wreck has changed your life. Get Gordon. Get it Done.