According to a recent report from KCRC-TV, a tractor-trailer accident led to a nearly five-hour shutdown of Interstate-5. Law enforcement officers determined that the primary cause of the crash was speeding by the truck driver, a 29-year-old man from Stockton. Here, our Stockton truck accident attorney discusses what we know about the crash, provides an overview of the dangers of speeding by commercial truck drivers, and explains what to do if you are involved in a wreck.
Speeding Semi-Truck Accident Causes Gas Leak on Interstate-5
At approximately 1:30 PM on the afternoon of February 4th, 2022, officers from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) responded to a report of a tractor-trailer accident on Interstate-5. The crash occurred in Glenn County, north of Sacramento. When officers arrived at the scene of the accident, they immediately observed that a significant amount of fuel was leaking from the large commercial truck. Several agencies, including local highway and rescue crews, were deployed to the scene.
As a consequence of the accident, the Southbound lane of Interstate -5 near the City of Orland, CA was closed for a period of nearly five hours. A preliminary investigation determined that the truck driver, an unidentified 29-year-old man from Stockton, was found to be legally responsible for the crash. According to officers from the CHP, the truck driver was operating the large commercial vehicle at an unsafe speed immediately prior to the impact.
Excessive Speed is a Cause in Many Tractor Trailer Crashes
All motorists have a legal responsibility to comply with the posted speed limit. Federal, state, and local highway authorities have determined that the applicable speed limit is the fastest that a particular stretch of road can be traveled in a safe manner. Speeding is dangerous—especially so if a large commercial truck is involved. Not only does speeding make a truck accident more likely to occur, it makes any resulting crash far more likely to lead to severe or catastrophic injuries.
Unfortunately, speeding remains a serious public safety problem in the trucking industry. By some metrics, speeding is the single leading cause of large commercial truck accidents throughout the United States. Indeed, The Large Truck Crash Causation Study from the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) emphasizes that “speed is a factor that increases the risk of being involved in a crash.”
How to Protect Your Rights If You are Involved in a Collision With a Speeding Trucker
Truck companies and truck drivers should never put profits before public safety. Truckers should never be allowed, encouraged, or expected to speed to meet a tight or overly aggressive delivery schedule. Truck companies need to ensure that drivers have adequate time to make deliveries in a safe manner. Speeding is negligence. A truck company and truck driver can be held legally liable for the resulting injuries. Here are five steps to protect your rights if you are involved in a collision with a speeding truck driver in Central California:
- Stop your vehicle, exchange information, and get emergency medical care for severe injuries;
- Report the truck accident to state or local law enforcement (a police report is crucial);
- Take photographs, get witness contact details, and write down what happened;
- Avoid making any direct contact with the truck company or its insurers before seeking guidance from an experienced attorney; and
- Work with a local truck accident attorney who can help you navigate all aspects of the claims process—including by getting access to any electronic data related to the truck.
Speeding trucks are incredibly dangerous. They have the potential to cause life-altering harm to innocent people. Following a crash with a speeding truck driver, you and your family need the maximum financial compensation. Among other types of losses, recovery may be available for automobile repair, medical bills, physical therapy, loss of current and future wages, pain and suffering, mental distress, and long-term disability or physical scarring.
Schedule a Free Consultation With a Truck Accident Attorney in Stockton
At Redkey Gordon Law Corp, our Stockton truck accident lawyers are committed to delivering big-time results for injured victims. If you or your loved one was hurt in a crash with a speeding trucker, we are here to help. Call us now or use our confidential contact form to arrange your free, no-obligation personal injury consultation. We represent truck accident victims throughout the entire region, including in San Joaquin County, Sacramento County, and Stanislaus County.