Portland Trucking Accident Lawyer Explains Causes for Truck Drivers Speeding and Causing Accidents in Oregon
Trucks overpower other vehicles on the road all the time. Trucks are heavier than other vehicles, faster than other vehicles, and potentially, much more dangerous on the roads. Still, a truck driver is like any other human—they have the capability of speeding while they drive. However, the difference here is that trucks, such as a loaded tractor, can weigh up to 40 tons. A sedan, on the other hand, weighs in around 1.5 tons. Speeding in a loaded tractor is clearly much riskier, and could prove more fatal as well. Contact our Oregon trucking accident attorney if you have been injured by truck drivers speeding and causing accidents in Oregon.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) has published that recently, in one single year, speeding killed 9,378 people. Truck drivers are not exempt from these statistics. In fact, throughout the last few years, trends have shown that violations from speeding for truck drivers has only risen. Truck drivers are also not exempt from the fact that humans tend to speed for the same or similar reasons that others do.
Reasons for Speeding, Specific to Truck Drivers Speeding and Causing Accidents in Oregon
- Trying to meet a deadline—many drivers are driving an upwards of 70 hours per week, and 14-hour shifts, as permitted by recent regulation changes by the trucking industry’s governing authority, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (“FMCSA”). Please refer to our discussion of this here: http://cklegal.com/truckers-can-drive-more-under-covid-19-regulations-portland-lawyer-explains-covid-trucking-risks/. Much is riding on the truck driver delivering the truck’s goods in a timely fashion, as the goods may need to be transferred to another destination thereafter or are time sensitive for another reason.
- Driver fatigue—due to driver fatigue, a driver may lose out on shift hours he or she was required to meet, and in an effort to make up for lost time, the driver speeds to make up the time difference.
- Substance abuse—if a truck driver is driving under the influence, whether it be alcohol, or drugs, it will impact the driver’s central nervous system. Changing the central nervous system may slow the driver down, or alternatively, speed the driver up. Recently, amphetamines, or “speed,” has become a widely abused drug amongst truck drivers, so that they can stay awake for longer and drive more. Please see our discussion of this here: http://cklegal.com/truck-drivers-drugged-driving-oregon-lawyer-discusses-the-ramifications/.
- Other reasons that could result in serious injuries.
Contact our Oregon trucking accident attorney to discuss why you suffered in a trucking accident because of speeding, and what we can do about it. Truck drivers speeding and causing accidents in Oregon can cause serious personal injuries or even the wrongful death of innocent people.
Deterring Truck Drivers from Speeding
It is often contested whether speeding has truly gone up amongst truck drivers, or whether recent technology tracking speeding has really been the catalyst. In December of 2015, the requirement that truck drivers use electronic logging devices (“ELD”) was made into law. An ELD is a tracking device that is installed in every truck driver’s vehicle. ELDs track various details, including GPS-like facts, the driver’s speed, and how many hours the driver drove, versus took breaks. ELDs are meant to compliment traditional written logs that drivers are still mandated to keep, but may prove more accurate. As such, ELDs are an effective tool in combatting speeding by truck drivers, as they track the speed that the truck is going, and supervisors to the drivers can receive a report of this.
ELDs provide other details that are useful in combatting excessive speeding. An ELD can show what type of hours the driver is driving. For example, if they are exceeding their assigned hours, or working shifts that are too long, the ELD will show this. Working too much can be a reason why a driver is speeding—they are trying to squeeze in as many hours as possible, and it is causing them to rush to complete them.
Call Our Experienced Portland Trucking Accident Lawyers for Help With Cases Involving Truck Drivers Speeding and Causing Accidents in Oregon
If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed as a result of a trucking accident or collision contact the Oregon Truck Accident Lawyers at Kuhlman Law at our number below or fill out the intake form. We offer a free initial case evaluation and handle cases on a contingency fee which means that you pay no money unless we recover.
Our law firm handles cases throughout the state including Bend and Portland Oregon, Redmond, Central Oregon, Sisters, Madras, Multnomah County, Deschutes County, Salem, Eugene, Corvallis, Lane County, Medford, Gresham, La Grande, Albany, Medford, Beaverton, Umatilla, Pendleton, Cottage Grove, Florence, Oregon City, Springfield, Keizer, Grants Pass, McMinnville, Tualatin, West Linn, Forest Grove, Wilsonville, Newberg, Roseburg, Lake Oswego, Klamath Falls, Happy Valley, Tigard, Ashland, Milwakie, Coos Bay, The Dalles, St. Helens, Sherwood, Central Point, Canby, Troutdale, Hermiston, Silverton, Hood River, Newport, Prineville, Astoria, Tillamook, Lincoln City, Hillsboro, and Vancouver, Washington.
We also have an office in Minneapolis, Minnesota and take Trucking accident cases throughout the Twin Cities, including St. Paul, Hennepin County, Ramsey County, Dakota County, Washington County, Anoka County, Scott County, Blaine, Stillwater, and Saint Paul Minnesota.
Please act quickly, there is a limited time (Statute of Limitations) in which you can bring a claim under the law.
