Why Unsafe Speed is the Leading Cause of Orange County Commercial Truck Crashes
Commercial truck crashes on Orange County’s busy highways claim lives and cause serious injuries every day. When an 80,000-pound truck hits your car at high speed, the results are often catastrophic. If you or someone you love was hurt in a truck accident, you need to understand what really caused the crash and who should pay for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain.
Speed-related truck accidents happen more often than most people realize. Orange County’s mix of heavy traffic, construction zones, and weather conditions creates perfect conditions for these devastating crashes. Truck drivers who speed put everyone on the road at risk, and trucking companies that push drivers to meet impossible deadlines share the blame.
At William D. Shapiro Law, Inc., our Santa Ana truck accident lawyers have been fighting for injured California victims for decades. We know that unsafe speed causes so many truck accidents in Orange County. If a speeding truck driver changed your life forever, call our injury law firm now at 909-890-1000.
The Deadly Physics of Speeding Trucks
A fully loaded commercial truck weighs 20 times more than a typical passenger car. The faster a truck travels, the longer it takes to stop and the more destruction it causes in a crash.
At 55 mph, a loaded truck needs about 400 feet to come to a complete stop. That’s longer than a football field. When truck drivers speed through Orange County traffic at 65 or 70 mph, their stopping distance increases dramatically. Add in California’s frequent rain or morning fog, and stopping distances can double.
The energy released in a high-speed truck crash is enormous. This energy has to go somewhere, and it usually goes into crushing the smaller vehicles involved. Even minor speed increases create major differences in crash severity. A truck hitting a car at 50 mph causes significantly more damage than the same crash at 40 mph.
Orange County’s High-Risk Areas for Speed-Related Truck Crashes
Several locations across Orange County see higher rates of speed-related truck accidents. The I-5 corridor through Santa Ana and Irvine experiences heavy truck traffic combined with frequent congestion. When traffic suddenly slows, speeding truck drivers often can’t stop in time.
The I-405 freeway presents unique challenges with its steep grades and sharp curves. Trucks carrying heavy loads down these grades can quickly exceed safe speeds, especially when drivers rely too heavily on their brakes. The 91 freeway through Anaheim and Fullerton also sees frequent speed-related crashes, particularly during rush hour when passenger cars and trucks compete for space.
Highway 57 and the 22 freeway create additional risk zones. These roads carry significant commercial traffic while winding through urban areas with frequent on-ramps and exits. Truck drivers who fail to adjust their speed for these conditions often cause multi-vehicle accidents.
Why Truck Drivers Speed Despite the Dangers
Truck drivers speed for several reasons, but money usually drives the decision. Many drivers are paid by the mile or by the load, rather than by the hour. This payment structure encourages drivers to cover as much ground as possible, often at the expense of safety.
Trucking companies make the problem worse by setting unrealistic delivery schedules. Drivers who want to keep their jobs feel pressure to meet impossible deadlines. Some companies even track their drivers’ locations in real-time and pressure them to drive faster when they fall behind schedule.
Electronic logging devices, which track driving hours, have created new pressure to speed. Drivers are aware that they have limited hours to complete their routes, so they attempt to cover more ground by driving faster within their allotted driving time.
FMCSA federal regulations limit truck drivers to 11 hours of driving per day and 70 hours per week. However, these rules don’t prevent speeding during those hours. Some drivers see speeding as the only way to maximize their income within these time limits.
The Role of Trucking Companies in Speed-Related Crashes
Trucking companies bear significant responsibility for speed-related accidents. They hire the drivers, set the schedules, and create the working conditions that encourage unsafe driving. When companies prioritize profits over safety, people get hurt.
Many trucking companies fail to properly screen drivers or provide adequate safety training. They may hire drivers with poor safety records or fail to monitor their drivers’ behavior on the road. Some companies even reward drivers for fast delivery times without considering the safety risks.
Equipment maintenance also plays a role. Trucks with worn brakes, bad tires, or mechanical problems are more likely to be involved in speed-related crashes. Companies that cut corners on maintenance put everyone at risk.
Fighting for Fair Compensation After a Truck Crash
Trucking companies and their insurance companies have teams of lawyers and investigators working to minimize their payouts. They may offer quick settlements that sound generous but don’t cover your long-term needs. Once you accept a settlement, you usually can’t ask for more money later, even if your injuries turn out to be worse than expected.
A qualified truck accident attorney can evaluate your case and fight for the full compensation you deserve. This includes money for current and future medical bills, lost wages, reduced earning capacity, and the physical and emotional pain caused by the crash.
The legal process takes time, but it’s often the only way to get fair compensation for speed-related truck crashes. Your attorney can handle the insurance companies while you focus on recovering from your injuries.
Contact William D. Shapiro Law, Inc.
If you’ve been hurt in a truck accident caused by unsafe speed, don’t wait to seek legal help. California has deadlines for filing injury claims, and important evidence disappears quickly.
Contact an experienced truck accident attorney at William D. Shapiro Law, Inc., today to learn about your rights and options. You deserve compensation for your injuries, and the negligent parties should be held accountable for their dangerous choices.
Call William D. Shapiro Law, Inc. at 909-890-1000 to talk about what happened or fill out our confidential contact form.
William Shapiro has handled catastrophic injury/wrongful death actions for over 4 decades obtaining numerous seven and eight-figure verdicts and settlements. Honors include: 2022, 2016 and 2013 OCTLA “Top Gun” TLY; 2022 CAOC TLY Finalist; 2018 “Lifetime Achievement Award” Western State College of Law, 2021 & 2017 Best Lawyers, Lawyer of the Year; 2016 WSBCBA “TLY”; 2015 CAL-ABOTA “TLY”; 2014 “TLY” Consumer Attorneys of CAOIE; 2011 “Hall of Fame,” Western State College of Law; Fellow, American College of Trial Lawyers; International Academy of Trial Lawyers; International Society of Barristers; Diplomat, American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA); National Board of Trial Advocacy; specialist in Trial Advocacy, State Bar of California; “Best Lawyers in America” and “Tier 1 Best Law Firms” U.S. News; AV Preeminent, Martindale-Hubbell; SuperLawyers; Past President of: San Bernardino/Riverside chapter ABOTA; San Bernardino County Bar Association; Consumer Attorneys of Inland Empire; The Joseph. B. Campbell American Inn of Court; Consumer Attorneys of California; IE ; National Sec of ABOTA, Adjunct professor, Western State College of Law. Learn more here.