A driver’s speed can affect the severity of a trucking accident because of the height, weight, stopping time, and stopping distance of a heavy truck. In addition, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that speed can affect a truck driver’s ability to control his truck, stop quickly in an emergency, avoid debris on the road, or otherwise safely navigate traffic.
As such, speeding might also increase the severity of injuries sustained in a trucking accident because it can decrease the effectiveness of safety equipment.
If you or someone you love was injured in a trucking accident because the at-fault truck driver was speeding, you might have the basis of a personal injury lawsuit. If a loved one was fatally injured in a high-speed trucking accident, specific members of your family might be entitled to file a wrongful death lawsuit. Your lawyer may be able to help you determine your ability to seek financial compensation from the at-fault truck driver.
Your Crash Report May Indicate the Truck Driver’s Speed
When your trucking accident generates a crash report, your legal team may use it to glean specific information that supports the cause of the accident. If the at-fault truck driver was speeding, your crash report may indicate his speed as well as your own. In addition, it may tell your lawyer:
- What evidence police collected at the scene
- What witnesses saw and heard at the scene
- The amount of immediately apparent damage
- Any immediately apparent physical injuries
If the police take photos, locate traffic camera or video footage, or collect debris, the crash report may also contain this information. It may also note tire marks and other information that help indicate the speed and direction of travel for both vehicles. Your lawyer might be able to use this information to substantiate the cause of the accident.
Add These Additional Documents to Your Evidence File
In addition to your crash report and witness statements, your legal team may request other documents that help build a complete case file. Your medical records and bills may help prove the extent and severity of your injuries and their immediate and future treatment needs. These records might help your lawyer calculate the cost of the injury portion of your medical care.
Your pre-accident financial records may help your lawyer determine the cost of the time you miss away from work in the immediate aftermath of the trucking accident. Your income loss might be calculated according to your immediate loss of work and the time your treatments will require in the future.
Your vehicle repair or replacement bills will tell your legal team how much it will cost for your damaged vehicle to be returned to its pre-accident condition. If the cost to repair your vehicle will exceed its value, your lawyer may use estimates of its value to calculate its replacement costs. Comply with any requests for records, receipts, and other documents as soon as possible.
Your Trucking Accident Lawsuit Is Time-Sensitive
According to the American Bar Association (ABA), each type of civil lawsuit you file has a predetermined timeline. Your lawyer can help you understand the amount of time you have to file a personal injury lawsuit if you or someone you love was injured in a trucking accident.
If a loved one died in a trucking accident, your lawyer can help you understand the filing deadline for a wrongful death lawsuit. If the truck involved in the speeding accident was a municipal vehicle, another timeline may apply to pursuing a governmental or municipal body for compensation.
Certain factors may alter the filing deadline. Your legal team can inform you if any such conditions apply in your case. By contacting a local trucking accident law firm immediately after the collision, your legal team may have sufficient time to ensure compliance with the statute of limitations.
Seek Compensation if Speeding Caused Your Trucking Accident
Truck drivers who speed pose a risk to everyone they share the road with. An accident caused by a truck driver who was speeding might create increased physical and financial damage.
If you were injured in a truck crash, our legal team may be able to help you find out how the driver’s speed affected the severity of your trucking accident and the type and amount of financial recovery you might be entitled to. Reach out to Morelli Law Firm by calling (212) 751-9800 to start building a solid case for financial recovery today.