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Our goal is to make sure you get the justice you deserve and are fully compensated for your harms and losses
Speeding Truck Accidents
When you drive, you are at the mercy of large vehicles that share the road with you, such as semi trucks. Drivers of smaller vehicles count on truckers to operate commercial vehicles safely and responsibly. Unfortunately, truck drivers can be careless and negligent, making bad driving choices like speeding in massive vehicles. For others on the road, the consequences of truckers’ rash decisions can be devastating or even deadly. In fact, speeding is the truck driver error that kills the most people, including both truckers themselves and innocent people caught in their paths.
Were you injured in an accident caused by a speeding truck driver in Boston, Bristol County, Norfolk County, or other areas of Massachusetts?
Speeding Truck Accident Victim Attorney Tracy Paulsen is here to help. Attorney Paulsen has devoted her career to fighting for justice for injured Bay State residents. She and her law firm, Rightful Legal, want to help you recover from your injuries and obtain the maximum possible compensation for all you have lost.
Speeding by commercial vehicles is a major safety issue on public roads, as recognized by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA). Speeding can mean exceeding the posted speed limit or simply driving too fast for the vehicle and current road conditions. In all motor vehicles, the National Safety Council warns that speeding increases the risk and severity of collisions and is a factor in many U.S. traffic fatalities. According to the FMCSA, the risks associated with speeding are drastically increased by the weight and size of commercial vehicles like semi trucks (also known as eighteen wheelers). These trucks take longer to stop and are more difficult to control than passenger vehicles, making speeding even more dangerous for truck drivers and the people around them.
Massachusetts Truck Accident Law Firm Rightful Legal is passionate about obtaining justice and the maximum possible compensation for each of our clients from the negligent truck drivers and transportation companies who have injured them. That is why Rightful Legal fiercely represents the victims of speeding accidents with semi trucks. Attorney Tracy Paulsen, founder and managing attorney, brings over 15 years of personal injury experience to each client’s trucking accident injury case. She has the skills and experience to Fight for Your Rights against the trucking company that has caused you so much pain.
If you were injured in a motor vehicle accident caused in whole or in part by a speeding driver, Attorney Paulsen wants to help you obtain fair compensation for your injuries. Reach out now to learn more about speeding truck accident injury claims and ensure that you do not lose your one opportunity to recover what you have lost because of your injuries. Rightful Legal offers free, confidential case consultations to potential clients. There is no obligation for attending this consultation, and our firm never gets paid unless we win your case.
Hurt by a Speeding Truck?
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What Kind of Injuries Are Caused by Speeding Truck Collisions?
A semi truck weighs 20-30 times what a regular passenger vehicle weighs. At higher speeds, trucks strike cars with even more force. This means that an accident with a speeding truck can be catastrophic for those in the passenger vehicle, and the crash can cause severe injuries and even death.
In her work as a Massachusetts Truck Speeding Accident Lawyer, Attorney Paulsen finds that the following injuries are common:
- Death
- Paralysis and Spinal Cord Injuries
- Broken Bones / Fractures
- Contusions / Bruises
- Head Injuries, including Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs)
- Psychological Trauma
- Back Injuries
- Neck Injuries, including Whiplash
- Internal Injuries / Soft Tissue Injuries
- Scarring / Disfigurement
- Shoulder Injuries
- Knee Injuries
- Burns
Regardless of whether your injuries are listed above, Rightful Legal is here for you. Attorney Paulsen and her team have helped many people in your situation obtain justice and fair compensation for their speeding truck accident injuries.
Why is It So Dangerous for Trucks to Speed?
A semi truck is a huge, heavy vehicle. Even at safe speeds, any mistake on the part of the semi driver can have devastating consequences. At higher speeds, a trucker simply does not have an appropriate ability to prevent dangerous accidents. This is due to factors like:
- Decreased vehicle control
- Like passenger vehicles, semi trucks and tractor trailers become more difficult to control at higher speeds. Given that quick maneuvers can cause a truck driver to lose control normally, speeding increases the risk of dangerous events like rollovers and jackknife accidents.
- Longer stopping distance
- Because of their tremendous weight and size, commercial vehicles already have a long stopping distance. When speeding, this stopping distance is increased even more, making it difficult or impossible for a driver to stop a truck in time to avoid a collision.
- Large blind spots
- Semi trucks have large blind spots on all four sides of the vehicle. When speed increases, a driver’s ability to see other vehicles and obstacles is lowered even further, which can lead to crashes.
- Confusion for other drivers
- At high speeds, passenger vehicle drivers have a more difficult time judging how far away a truck is and how quickly it will reach them. Especially when combined with blind spots and longer stopping distance, this confusion can be deadly.
- Too much speed for tires and brakes
- Semi trucks are designed and equipped to drive at safe speeds. When speed increases, truck tires and brakes may not afford the driver adequate control of the vehicle. Any faulty equipment that has been missed in maintenance inspections also becomes more likely to dangerously malfunction at higher speeds.
What Can Be Done About Truck Driver Speeding?
Speeding trucks are a recognized hazard on U.S. roads, killing and injuring many people (including truckers) each year. Too often, truck drivers are able to speed with no accountability or enforcement. Trucking companies place pressure on truckers to complete their routes within a certain time frame. Truck drivers are also limited in the number of hours they may legally drive in a row, and they are required to take mandatory rest breaks. In order to complete their routes while staying within allowed driving hours, many truckers make the selfish and unsafe choice to speed.
In response to this, the FMCSA recently proposed a system in which each semi truck would be required to have an electronic speed limiting device. Speeds for commercial trucks would have been limited across the country to 60, 65, or 68 miles per hour, regardless of the posted speed limit. This would have allowed federal regulators to identify and prevent speeding by commercial vehicle drivers. Unfortunately, the trucking industry fought hard to kill these proposed regulations, and truck drivers continue to speed with impunity in many cases.
Truck drivers who are caught speeding multiple times within a certain time period, whether in their trucks or in their personal vehicles, face disqualification, meaning they can no longer drive commercial vehicles. Unfortunately, speeding truck drivers are often not caught, meaning they continue to be allowed to drive commercial vehicles unsafely.
Ultimately, it is currently up to individual companies and truck drivers to prevent truck speeding. Commercial vehicle drivers should follow best practices to avoid speeding, including:
- Making the choice to drive within the posted speed limit. Truck drivers should pay attention to the posted speed limit and choose to follow it at all times.
- Checking the weather. Truck drivers should view the weather forecast for each route before departure. Weather can affect timelines, road conditions, and safe driving speeds.
- Reviewing the route. Truck operators should also check their routes before departure for issues like construction, road closures, and dangerous terrain (such as mountains or falling rocks).
- Reducing speed when necessary. Some portions of the road, such as curves and ramps, have a lower safe speed than others, even if the speed limit remains the same. Truckers should also reduce speed in response to traffic conditions when necessary.
- Inspecting vehicles appropriately. Truck drivers are required to perform certain routine vehicle maintenance inspections. In particular, they should check their truck tires and brakes to ensure they can maintain a safe speed on their route.
Injured in an Accident with a Speeding Trucker?
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Why Have Rightful Legal as Your Lawyer in Your Speeding Truck Accident Case?
If you were hurt in a trucking accident where the truck driver was speeding, you may have the legal right to compensation for your losses, such as medical bills, lost wages from missing work, and other damages unique to your case. For those who have suffered the unimaginable loss of a loved one at the hands of a speeding trucker, a wrongful death claim may be an option.
If you were injured in a speeding-related truck crash, you need to act quickly. Massachusetts law imposes a strict time limit for bringing personal injury claims. The deadline is three years from the date you learned (or reasonably should have learned) of your injuries, most often the day of the collision. Failing to make your claim within this period causes you to permanently lose your right to compensation. Acting promptly to bring your case not only protects your claim but also strengthens the ability of you and your attorney to find and preserve key evidence in your case.
Speeding Truck Accident Attorney Tracy Paulsen understands how devastating a speeding accident with a semi truck can be, whether it results in serious injuries or the tragic loss of a loved one. She and her dedicated Rightful Legal team guide clients through every stage of the legal process with compassion, individualized attention, and relentless advocacy. Attorney Paulsen’s mission is to handle the legal burdens so that you can get justice and focus on healing from your injuries.
Personal injury law firm Rightful Legal passionately represents injured individuals and grieving families from Bristol County, Plymouth County, the Boston area, and all of Massachusetts who have been harmed by speeding truck drivers. Our firm is prepared to thoroughly investigate your accident, build a strong case backed by the best evidence available, and fight to secure the full compensation you deserve. Attorney Paulsen and her team are well-versed in Massachusetts motor vehicle accident laws and skilled in dealing with large trucking companies and their insurers, who often try to minimize victims’ losses. Rightful Legal is also fully equipped to take cases to trial when necessary.
No Recovery, No Fee. You owe Rightful Legal nothing unless we win your case for you. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation, where you can tell us your story, learn more about your legal rights and options, and explore how our team can help you move forward with your life after an accident with a speeding truck.
Call or Text Our Team Now at 617-821-5856. You can also reach out to our zealous Massachusetts Speeding Truck Accident Victim Lawyers Online Right Away.
