Maison Law represents victims throughout California, especially those that have been injured in accidents with trucks. Of all the various safety laws for these vehicles, one of the most basic–and important–is the speed limit. As you might expect, the speed limit for trucks is very much in line with the overall speed limit. Still, if you’re hurt in an accident and want to know more about your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation.
Speed Limit For Trucks
Under Section 22406 of the California Vehicle Code (CVC), commercial trucks, buses, and other large vehicles can drive in excess of:
- 55 miles per hour.
This means that, effectively, truck drivers must follow the posted speed limit of a given road, despite the major differences their vehicles have with normal passenger cars. Not surprisingly, big rigs and similar sized trucks having this speed limit in place is very important to the safety of everyone on the road. But it’s important to look at how these trucks can cause accidents and what can happen in them.
Why Are Truck Accidents More Serious?
The purpose of this law–and the overall speed limit laws–is to make things safer. This isn’t that complicated: the faster a vehicle is going, the more damaging the accident will be. This is true of any vehicle, but when you consider a big rig, it becomes even more clear why speed limits are in place.
On average, a big rig is multiple times larger and heavier than a normal car. That alone can account for why accidents with them are more serious. But there are a number of other reasons as well, all of which you may have to deal with:
- Longer stopping distance – Because of the size disparity and the fact that many trucks carry heavy materials, it takes longer for them to stop. Moreover, in cases of bad weather or road conditions, it can make them much harder to maneuver to avoid an accident.
- Hazardous cargo – On top of being much heavier, many big rigs in California carry cargo that’s hazardous or toxic. This usually involves things like chemicals, gasoline, or other materials that make an accident even more dangerous. Not only could you be dealing with normal vehicle accident injuries, you may also have to deal with chemical burns or toxic exposure.
- Driver fatigue – Big rig drivers in California–and elsewhere–have extremely tight timelines for making deliveries and transporting their goods. This, coupled with heavy workloads, makes drivers try to power through long trips, leading to fatigue. This, in turn, leads to drowsy driving, slowed reaction time, or worse–substance abuse, in particular–to attempt to keep up.
Can You Avoid These Accidents?
Obviously, it’s not just truck drivers that have speed limits. When you get behind the wheel, you also have to follow posted speed limits. And even though it’s not always possible to avoid an accident, there’s several ways that following the speed limit helps you:
- Reacting quickly – When you drive at or below the speed limit, you have enough time to respond if something unexpected happens. Going too fast makes it harder to react fast to things like sudden stops or obstacles on the road.
- Stopping distance – How fast you’re driving affects how far your car needs to stop completely. If you stick to the speed limit, your car can stop in a reasonable distance, which lowers the chance of hitting someone from behind or having a crash at intersections.
- Controlling your car – Keeping a moderate speed helps you control your car better. Going too fast, especially in bad weather or on slippery roads, makes it easier to lose control, and that makes accidents more likely.
- Seeing better – Driving at the right speed lets you see what’s around you and spot possible dangers. It gives you extra time to notice pedestrians, cyclists, or things on the road, which helps prevent accidents by making you more aware.
- Staying in your lane – Following the speed limit helps you stay in your lane properly. Going too fast might make you change lanes suddenly, which raises the chance of side-swipe accidents. Following the speed rules keeps traffic moving smoothly and makes accidents less likely.
- Less severe accidents – If there is an accident, going slower usually means the crash is not as bad. Slower speeds mean less force during a crash, which can lower injuries and damage to your car.
Contact Maison Law After a California Truck Accident
Again, it’s not always possible to avoid an accident with a big rig–especially if you or they are speeding. This can have disastrous consequences in terms of your injuries and damage to your vehicle. That’s where our team of California truck accident lawyers at Maison Law can help.
We’ll explain your rights and what you need to do to recover financial support under the law. Contact us today to set up a free consultation to learn more.
