Semi-Trucks in California aren’t allowed to exceed 55 mph on any road in the state. Big rig drivers are legally required to remain at 55 mph or under no matter what the posted speed limit is on a freeway, highway, or interstate.
California limits the speeds of semi-trucks and certain other towing vehicles in order to cut down on dangerous collisions. Many motorists in cars and SUVs have observed plenty of trucks pass them doing well over the posted speed limit, but if they are caught they can be penalized.
Contact a California Truck Accident Lawyer for a Free Consultation
After suffering a serious injury in a collision caused by a careless or reckless big rig driver, don’t trust an insurance company to inform you of all the benefits available to you and your family.
Fortunately, there’s a no-risk way to speak with a skilled California Truck Accident Lawyer to find out what your injuries may be worth. Contact Maison Law of California for a free and confidential case consultation.
It’s also a chance to discuss just who may accountable for your accident. It may be more than just the truck driver who will be providing a settlement check for your recovery costs.
California Semi-Truck Speed Limit
Semi-trucks using California roadways have a top speed drivers are not supposed to exceed. These big rigs are not permitted to go over 55 mph on any road. This would include interstates and freeways that allow for speeds of 65 and 70 mph. The posted speed limits are only for passenger vehicles.
California Vehicle Codes detail the types of vehicles subject to this reduced speed limit:
“22406. No person may drive any of the following vehicles on a highway at a speed in excess of 55 miles per hour: (a) A motortruck or truck tractor having three or more axles or any motortruck or truck tractor drawing any other vehicle.”
This means semi-trucks but can also apply to any vehicle pulling a trailer, a camper, or another car. There are also codes meant to keep slow-moving trucks and traffic out of the fast lane. Trucks under the 55 mph law must stay in the rightmost lane or “slow-lane” except when passing other vehicles or making a left turn.
You may be surprised to know that most interstates and highways also have a minimum speed limit that trucks must observe. These minimum speed regulations usually limit cars on major roadways from going under 45 or 55mph. This is also something for truck drivers to monitor. California wants to limit speeds for trucks but they don’t want big rigs clogging up the lanes and slowing down all traffic flow.
Who Can Be Sued After a California Semi-Truck Accident?
You and your passengers can be hurt by big rig drivers and their carelessness no matter what speed they are traveling. A semi-truck driver could be texting and not watching traffic ahead when they come upon stopped vehicles. The driver might not even hit the brakes before ramming the back of your SUV and causing serious injuries to you or a loved one.
For victims, it’ll be very important to identify just who should be held liable for all recovery costs. A truck driver’s commercial insurance policy may have a very low cap on benefits it will pay out. If you don’t want to be stuck paying for your own care, you may need to investigate whether others should be contributing to your medical bills.
This is just a partial list of parties who may be liable for your truck accident:
- Truck Driver’s Insurance – Drivers can work for themselves and carry commercial truck accident coverage.
- Trucking Company’s Insurance — The driver may work for a local trucking company or a national corporation. Large companies can carry more in insurance coverage for employees, but they’ll also be able to afford lawyers. These legal representatives will try to downplay your injury and the blame for their driver. You’ll want a skilled California Truck Driver representing your case to make sure these corporate lawyers don’t rob you of fair compensation.
- Maintenance Problems – Truck companies and vehicle repair shops may face added liability if they aren’t maintaining their semi-trucks properly. If bald tires or worn-out brakes contribute to an accident, trucking companies could be fully responsible.
- Truck Manufacturer – A part malfunction or a design flaw could also leave a truck maker liable.
A California Big Rig Accident Lawyer works to identify every party that bears fault in your accident. This is the only way to make sure you receive the support you need to make a full recovery.
Compensation Available After a Semi-Truck Accident
California truck accident victims have just two years from the date of the crash to file an injury claim. In this claim, you’ll be listing every hardship you’ve faced since the accident occurred.
These are just a few of the damages your personal injury lawyer will make sure are included:
- Hospital bills now and estimates on care expected to be necessary in the future.
- Permanent disability and lifelong expenses. This care will also have to be estimated. The cost of long-term medical treatment and the replacement of earning potential if a victim can never return to work.
- Physical pain suffered in a big rig accident. This is hard to put a dollar value on, but for victims, pain management can be as challenging as any other part of recovery.
- Emotional anguish. The anxiety, depression, and other mental health challenges victims face in recovery. Victims may, understandably, lose a bit of their enjoyment of life with injuries that limit their participation in family activities and hobbies.
- Travel to appointments and to see specialists in other cities or states. Travel may be particularly expensive and exhausting if you’re in a wheelchair and can’t drive yourself.
- Lost income while the victim is missing work while healing.
- Wrongful Death Benefits. A family may sue a trucking company if a loved one has been lost to a careless truck driver’s mistake. This claim seeks to protect the family from every financial hardship that rises after a tragic accident.
Contact a California Truck Accident Lawyer
California limits the speeds of semi-trucks to prevent devastating accidents. But even when truck drivers obey the law, it doesn’t prevent all truck collisions.
After suffering a serious injury, contact Maison Law to talk to a real California Truck Accident Lawyer. It’s a no-risk way to find out what your case is really worth. Martin Gasparian, the founder of Maison Law, will listen to you and go over every option you and your family have.
If Mr. Gasparian feels he can improve the outcome of an injury claim for you and your family, you’ll never need any upfront money to hire him. He doesn’t charge you an attorney’s fee unless he wins your case.
