Drivers who speed create dangerous conditions for themselves and other drivers on the road. Statistics from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) show that speeding is one of the leading causes of car accidents in the United States. And car accidents involving speeding are usually more serious and more likely to result in traffic fatalities. The plain truth is this: any time you speed while driving, making a turn, or passing another vehicle, you risk injury or death. And combining speeding with other risky activities increases this risk.
If you have been injured by a speeding driver, you need a good lawyer on your side. The Naperville car accident attorneys at The Collins Law Firm have the resources, experience, and determination to win your case and get you the compensation you deserve. To schedule a free consultation, call us at (630) 527-1595 or fill out our new client form. Our Naperville personal injury attorneys will review your case and help you pursue a legal claim.
Speeding can be deadly. In 2020, speeding was a factor in the deaths of 11,258 people, or 29% of all traffic fatalities, in the United States. In 2019, 9717 people lost their lives in speeding car accidents. In fact, data from the NHTSA shows that speeding was a bigger factor in traffic fatalities than drunk driving or texting.
In Illinois, crashes involving speeding accounted for 33.4% of overall crashes, 37.6% of injury crashes, and 39.2% of fatal crashes in 2019. By comparison, only 27% of fatal crashes in Illinois involved alcohol.
Speeding is dangerous because it increases the risk of a car accident. If a driver is going too fast, he may not have enough time to recognize and avoid an unexpected hazard on the road. Without adequate reaction time, a speeding car is more likely to hit another car, crash into construction barriers, or hit a pedestrian or bicyclist on the side of the road or in a crosswalk. Moreover, cars traveling at increased speeds are involved in more rollover accidents than cars traveling at a more appropriate speed. These accidents, where a car flips over onto its roof, are often the deadliest. Bad weather and speeding are an especially dangerous combination that can cause a driver to lose control of his vehicle and crash.
Speeding car accidents can be caused by many things, including:
Drunk Driving: Drivers who are under the influence do not make safe choices and may not even realize how fast they are driving. In addition, the alcohol in their system impairs their reflexes making them less able to react quickly in a hazardous situation. Put together, these factors increase the chances of a car crashing into another vehicle or hitting a pedestrian.
Distracted Driving: Texting, talking on the phone, and using other electronic devices while driving are serious distractions that can lead to car accidents. Distracted drivers may not be aware they are speeding and may not see a pedestrian, a hazard, or another vehicle in time to prevent crashing into them.
Reckless Driving: Speeding itself is a form of reckless driving. And drivers who engage in other reckless behavior--such as running stop signs--while speeding increase the risk of causing a very serious accident.
If you are in a car crash caused by a speeding motorist there are several steps you should take if you are able:
Hiring an experienced and knowledgeable car accident attorney can be invaluable to you after a car crash. First of all, a good lawyer can take the worry out of the process, so you can focus on your recovery. Secondly, they can negotiate for the best possible compensation for your injuries, medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. A study by the Insurance Research Council concluded that people injured in an auto accident who hire a personal injury attorney win 3.5 times more in settlement compensation than injury victims who don't hire a lawyer. Your attorney will handle your car accident case from start to finish. He or she can gather all the evidence, conduct an investigation of the accident if necessary, submit a demand letter, negotiate a settlement, and even file a lawsuit on your behalf if required.
In certain types of situations, it is generally obvious who was at fault. Some rather clear-cut situations include:
In other situations, your attorney may need to do an investigation to prove who is liable for your accident, including checking the following:
A thorough investigation may be necessary to determine who is at fault in a speeding-related car accident. In some complicated cases, your attorney may suggest hiring a crash reconstruction expert to help prove liability. These experts recreate the accident scene to show who was at fault. This is critical as car accident victims only receive compensation when the other driver is at fault.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) has determined that the average cost of a car accident is $16,500. This amount includes both economic and non-economic damages suffered due to the crash. This figure varies widely, however, as the value of your claim will be impacted by how severe your injuries are, what your medical bills are, whether you have lifelong disabilities or disfigurement, whether you will need long-term rehabilitation, how much you have lost in earnings, the amount of property damage, and your pain and suffering. An experienced car accident lawyer will consider every category of damages and ensure that you receive the maximum compensation for all your damages.
If you have been injured in a car crash caused by a speeding driver, the experienced Naperville car accident attorneys at the Collins Law Firm can help. We will take care of every aspect of your case so that you can focus on your recovery. We take every car accident case seriously and give each one the dedication and resources necessary to secure the maximum.
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