All truck drivers in California must follow a speed limit set just for trucks. Breaking this speed limit can result in steep fines and even jail time in serious cases.
It only makes sense that tanker truck drivers who haul dangerous substances should receive even stiffer penalties if caught speeding. Speeding only increases the chances of a terrible accident that can cause devastating impacts with smaller vehicles. When a tanker truck is involved, the threat of the gasoline they haul, or whatever substance they carry, only increases the dangers for everyone on the road.
The Fines for Tanker Truck Drivers Who Speed
Truck drivers in California are at the wheel of some massive vehicles that can cause devastation on local freeways and boulevards. For this reason, state lawmakers impose a strict speed limit for truck drivers.
According to California Vehicle Code CVS 22406, truck drivers should never exceed 55 mph in the state. This speed limit might be well below the posted speed limit, but truck drivers can be pulled over and ticketed for exceeding it. If truck drivers go over the speed limit by 15 mph or more, they can face criminal charges and additional penalties.
Above these heavy punishments, tanker trucks also face additional financial hits. California laws increase the penalties for violators who are hauling sometimes dangerous or toxic substances on local roads:
“Any person who drives a tank vehicle subject to Division 14.7 (commencing with Section 34000) while transporting more than 500 gallons of flammable liquid at a speed greater than the applicable speed limit or in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property is, in addition to any other applicable penalty, subject to a fine of not less than five hundred dollars ($500) for a first offense and, for a second or subsequent offense within two years of a prior offense, to a fine of not less than two thousand dollars ($2,000) and a suspension of up to six months of a hazardous materials or cargo tank endorsement, or both.”
Tanker truck drivers risk financial losses and the loss of their certification to drive vehicles carrying cargo tanks and hazardous materials.
They can also be held liable for the harm they cause in collisions. Victims in smaller vehicles who get hurt can ask the company the driver is employed by for full compensation for recovery costs and lost income. Families who lose a loved one to a terrible tanker crash can also seek wrongful death support and receive help with financial burdens.
Unfortunately, trucking companies and corporations are often large and able to afford teams of lawyers. These lawyers will try to blame other drivers and downplay injuries, all to save these companies money. You may need a skilled California Truck Accident Lawyer to back your case with evidence and hold commercial accident insurance providers accountable.
Contact a California Truck Accident Lawyer
After an accident involving a truck leaves you with a serious injury, you should talk over your case and your options with an experienced California truck accident lawyer. If your crash was caused by a reckless truck driver, the driver and the driver’s employer should fully support your recovery.
Schedule a free, no-obligation consultation with one of our skilled attorneys. It’s a chance to determine how much a reckless driver should provide to you. There’s no obligation, and if you do need our help, we don’t get paid unless we win your case.
