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Injured by a Speeding Truck Driver?
Seek Financial Compensation With a Houston Personal Injury Attorney
Driving faster than the posted speed limit is dangerous, no matter the circumstances. Sharp turns, sudden stops, and safe maneuvering become more difficult the faster you are traveling. Commercial truck drivers, who are often operating vehicles that weigh 20x that of a standard car, will face even more difficulty controlling them when speeding as a simple consequence of additional momentum.
A speeding tractor-trailer can have devastating consequences on other motorists, but it does not stop truckers from accelerating beyond the speed limit. They might be late for an important delivery, or they could be trying to get home early after spending half a day behind the wheel. No matter their reasoning for putting everyone in danger with reckless driving, they are not excused. At The Cox Pradia Law Firm, P.L.L.C., our Houston truck accident attorneys have over 40 years of combined legal experience. They will tirelessly pursue justice in your name, holding those who hurt you liable for their carelessness.
How a Truck’s Load Impacts Stability at High Speeds
When a truck barrels down the highway above the speed limit, the cargo it carries becomes a critical factor in maintaining control. The sheer weight and potential movement of the load can quickly turn an already risky situation into a dangerous one. Loads that aren’t properly balanced or secured are especially prone to shifting while the truck is in motion. This sudden shift can upset the truck’s center of gravity, making it much harder for the driver to keep the vehicle stable—especially during sharp turns or abrupt maneuvers.
These challenges are amplified at higher speeds:
- Increased risk of rollovers: When the cargo moves unexpectedly, especially during a turn or stop, the trailer can tip over.
- Jackknifing: An unstable load can cause the trailer to swing out of alignment with the cab, leading to a jackknife accident.
- Longer stopping distances: The heavier the truck and the more unstable the load, the further it will slide or swerve before coming to a complete stop.
In short, a speeding truck with an unsteady or shifting load is much more likely to lose control—endangering everyone on the road.
Contact us right away if you need someone to represent you and help you seek a fair settlement.
Consequences of a Traffic Collision With a Speeding Truck
A speeding semi-truck going down the highway is just as dangerous as a rolling wrecking ball – they both weigh tons, are challenging to steer, and require near-impossible efforts to bring to a complete stop. Even a rear-end collision, which might cause minimal damage when smaller vehicles collide, could result in catastrophic injury or death when a speeding truck is involved.
If you have been in a collision with a tractor-trailer, you might be facing the following consequences:
- Bodily harm
- Property damage
- Medical bills
- Repair costs
- Lost wages
- Emotional trauma
- Impaired movement
Key Evidence in Truck Accident Cases Involving Speeding
Building a strong case against a speeding truck driver often comes down to the quality of your evidence. While eyewitness testimony and police reports are fundamental, there’s another crucial piece of the puzzle: electronic data.
Most modern commercial trucks are equipped with event data recorders (EDRs), commonly called “black boxes.” These devices capture a wide range of information, including:
- The truck’s speed at the moment of the crash
- Patterns of acceleration or braking prior to impact
- The truck’s average speed in the days and weeks leading up to the accident
Securing this data quickly is vital. Trucking companies may attempt to overwrite or erase the EDR information, which makes acting fast critical to your claim. An experienced attorney will know how to request and preserve this and other key evidence on your behalf.
In addition to black box data, valuable evidence may include:
- Onboard camera footage (dash cams, if available)
- Logbooks tracking hours of service and rest periods
- Vehicle maintenance and inspection records
- Photos of the scene and vehicle damage
- Testimonies from witnesses or other drivers
By gathering these types of evidence, you can more effectively demonstrate that the truck driver’s excessive speed caused your injuries.
Tools and Steps for Investigating Truck Accident Negligence
When it comes to proving that a truck driver was speeding or otherwise negligent, it often takes more than eyewitness testimony. Modern commercial trucks are equipped with onboard data recorders—commonly known as “black boxes.” Most manufacturers have included them since the 1990s, and these devices quietly track a range of crucial data points, such as the truck’s speed in the moments before impact, braking patterns, and sometimes even driving time over the previous days.
How can this help your case? If you were injured by a speeding trucker, the black box could provide objective evidence that the driver was operating far beyond safe limits at the time of your accident. But time is not on your side; with ongoing use, black box data can be erased or overwritten. That’s why it’s important to take swift legal action to preserve this evidence.
Your legal team can help by:
- Sending a “spoliation letter” to require the trucking company to maintain all relevant data, preventing the deletion of crucial information.
- Collecting additional evidence, such as dash cam footage, GPS logs, and maintenance records, which can reveal patterns of unsafe driving or neglected safety protocols.
- Interviewing witnesses who can provide insight into the events before, during, and after the crash.
- Working with accident reconstruction experts to piece together a clear, factual account of the collision.
Gathering this evidence not only strengthens your claim but also boosts your chances of holding the responsible parties fully accountable for your injuries.
Using a Truck’s Black Box to Establish Speeding
When it comes to determining the true cause of a truck accident, few pieces of evidence are as telling as a truck’s “black box,” formally known as an event data recorder (EDR). These electronic devices, which have been standard in most trucks since the 1990s, function much like the EDRs found in airplanes.
What does a truck’s black box do?
The EDR continually collects vital information, including speed, brake activity, and even the truck’s movements in the crucial moments leading up to a crash. Specifically, it can reveal:
- The truck’s speed at the time of impact
- Average speed data over previous weeks
- Sudden acceleration or deceleration
- Application of brakes and throttle position
All of these details can be pivotal in showing that a truck was exceeding speed limits when an accident occurred.
How does this help your case?
Accessing the data recorded by an EDR can make all the difference in a truck accident claim. With the right legal representation, you can secure these digital records before they’re altered or overwritten—ensuring that vital speed-related evidence is preserved. This data can back up your account of the collision, strengthen your case, and help you hold both the driver and the trucking company accountable.
If you’ve been struck by a speeding truck, this information may be the key to proving fault and fighting for the compensation you deserve.
Focus on Recovering From Your Personal Injuries
No one deserves to be injured by a reckless truck driver, especially when the accident was not their fault. And yet, insurance providers may only offer coverage for actual damages, failing to provide you with all the financial support you need. Medical bills and repair costs could be stacking on your shoulders. You don’t have to carry the burden alone.
If you have been struck by a speeding trucker and want to pursue punitive and nominal damages – or if you feel your insurance coverage is unjustly lacking – the compassionate Houston truck accident lawyers at The Cox Pradia Law Firm, P.L.L.C. can stand by your side in your time of need. By analyzing all the facts and giving your case the personalized attention that it deserves, we can build a case that can stand up to even the biggest insurance corporations and the most stubborn trucking companies. In the end, we want you to rest and recover while we do all the hard work.
You deserve professional support. Start with a no-cost, no-obligation case evaluation.
