Last summer, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration proposed equipping certain commercial motor vehicles, i.e., large trucks, with speed limiting devices. These devices would work to limit the maximum speed the truck would be able to travel, which safety advocates estimated could save lives and more than $1 billion dollars in fuel costs each year. The primary purpose of requiring newly manufactured commercial motor vehicles to come equipped with such devices is because even small increases in the speed of heavy vehicles can make the difference between life and death, but the Trump administration disagreed.
Roadblocks for Speed Limiter Regulations
As of last month, the proposed speed limiting regulations were sidelined in an attempt to cut down on ineffective and redundant legislation. But would such a regulation actually be ineffective? Truck accidents are among the most dangerous motor vehicle crashes that occur on Alabama’s roads, and speed is actually one of the leading factors of truck accident crashes. The alarming fact is that of those truck crashes that prove fatal, nearly 70% of those killed are not truck drivers or occupants. This is because the weight and speed of a large truck will generally produce enough force to repel or crush most other vehicles that would come into contact with it. Further, one of the most dangerous truck accidents occurs when a smaller motor vehicle’s front end gets jammed under the truck’s trailer, which can make it difficult to free the passengers trapped beneath and result in serious injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries or spinal trauma.
Recovering Compensation after your Truck Accident
If you have been injured in a truck accident, you are entitled to compensation for the following:
- Medical bills;
- Lost wages;
- Medications;
- Medical equipment;
- Loss of future earning capacity; and
- Additional out of pocket expenses, such as medical transportation, housecleaning, and child care.
Further, because most trucks are owned by a trucking company and are required to carry large commercial motor vehicle insurance policies, your Alabama personal injury attorney may be able to get you the compensation you need directly from the trucking insurance company or the owner of the truck. It may not be necessary to litigate your claims if liability is clear and the insurance policy is sufficient to compensate you for your injuries. However, you and your attorney should always be ready to litigate your claims in the event liability is denied.
Contact an Alabama Personal Injury and Truck Accident Attorney Today
If you or a loved one was injured as a result of negligent truck driving in Mobile, Alabama, do not hesitate to seek compensation. Truck drivers are held to a higher standard of care than most drivers on the road due to the weight and size of the load they carry, and they must be responsible on Alabama’s roads. Alabama trial attorneys Clay Massey & Associates, P.C. have the experience you need to analyze your case and get you the compensation you deserve after a serious truck accident. Contact them today at 251-433-1000 or online for a free, no-risk consultation.
