WILL LIMITING LARGE TRUCK SPEEDS REDUCE ACCIDENTS?
Posted on Monday, November 7th, 2016 at 9:40 pm
The chicago Tribune reported in a news story that a new proposal if passed, will electronically limit the speed of commercial trucks throughout the United States. Regulators are considering placing an electronic device on vehicles that weigh more than 26,000 pounds. The device would limit the vehicle’s speed. Regulators are considering capping the speed at 60, 65, or 68 mph. However, the proposal would not require older vehicles to be modified to limit speed. The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration have proposed the new requirement.
Commercial Truck Accidents
During 2014, the NHTSA reported 3,903 people died in large truck accidents. Large truck accidents injured 111,000 people during that same year. By limiting the speed of commercial vehicles, the government hopes to reduce the number of fatal crashes. Another benefit from limiting the speed of commercial vehicles is an economic benefit. The government estimates that over $1 billion can be saved each year by capping speeds.
Unfortunately, in large truck accidents, drivers, and passengers in other vehicles are the ones who are the ones in the most danger. The NHTSA reports that 73 percent of the fatalities in large truck accidents were occupants of other vehicles and 10 percent were non-occupants (i.e. pedestrians, bicyclists, etc.). Only 17 percent of the deaths in large truck accidents were the driver or passenger in the truck.
Likewise, the same is true for injuries in large truck accidents. Only 23 percent of injuries in large truck accidents were drivers or passengers of the large trucks. Occupants of other vehicles sustained 74 percent of the injuries and non-occupants sustained three percent of the injuries. These stark statistics are one of the major arguments safety advocates use to support a cap on truck speeds that drivers are unable to by-pass. Truck drivers and others against a speed limit argue that these speeds are too low. They advocate for much higher speeds.
Damages In A Large Truck Accident
For victims who survive a large truck accident, the road ahead may be long and difficult. Injuries in an accident involving a commercial vehicle tend to be catastrophic. In many cases, victims have permanent disabilities that prevent them from working or returning to their normal daily activities. For others, they may face a lifetime of personal care and medical care. Therefore, the damages in a truck accident case can be substantial.
Insurance companies for the trucking industry aggressively fight accident claims to limit their liability. They have teams of professionals who begin investigating the accident within hours of the crash. Therefore, you need a team of legal professionals on your side to protect your right to receive full compensation for your injuries, damages, and losses.
Call A Sacramento Truck Accident Attorney
The Sacramento truck accident attorneys of the Tiemann Law Firm aggressively fight insurance companies for our clients’ right to a fair and just settlement for their accident claim. We aggressively pursue accident claims from the moment you hire our firm.
Do not wait until the insurance company has denied your claim to call. Call our office today at (916) 999-9000 or chat with a representative on our website to schedule a free consultation today.
