The Impact of Speeding in Car Accidents

Car accidents caused by speeding can have devastating consequences, affecting not only the individuals involved in the crash but also their families and loved ones. The high speeds involved in these accidents often result in more severe injuries and a higher likelihood of fatalities.

Staying mindful of your driving speed protects everyone’s safety on the road. If you or someone you know has been affected by a car accident involving speeding, don’t hesitate to speak to a skilled car accident attorney today. A Billings car accident lawyer can review your case to determine if the other party caused the incident. If so, you can be entitled to compensation.

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Speeding And Car Accident Statistics

Speeding is a significant contributing factor to car accidents worldwide. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), speeding contributes to approximately 30 percent of all fatal road accidents globally. In the United States alone, speeding-related crashes account for a substantial portion of traffic fatalities each year.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that in a recent year, speeding was a factor in 26 percent of all traffic fatalities in the U.S. This percentage translates to over 9,000 lives lost due to drivers exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for road conditions. The statistics highlight the serious consequences of speeding and its impact on road safety.

How Speeding Leads To More Serious Car Accidents

Speeding significantly increases the likelihood of more severe car accidents. The physics of high-speed collisions makes them far more dangerous than accidents at lower speeds. When a vehicle travels at an excessive speed, the impact of a crash is much more forceful, resulting in more significant damage to the vehicles involved and more severe injuries to the occupants.

In addition, speeding reduces the driver’s reaction time and ability to control the vehicle, making it difficult to avoid collisions or navigate safely through traffic. The higher the speed, the less time the driver has to react to unexpected situations on the road, such as sudden stops or obstacles. This lack of reaction time can lead to catastrophic accidents with devastating consequences.

Furthermore, speeding increases a vehicle’s stopping distance. When a driver is traveling at high speeds, it takes longer for the car to come to a complete stop, especially in emergency braking situations. This extended stopping distance can result in rear-end collisions, run-off-road accidents, or collisions with pedestrians or other vehicles at intersections.

Who Is At Fault In My Car Accident?

Determining fault in a car accident is vital for establishing liability and seeking compensation for damages. In most cases, fault is assigned based on the principle of negligence – the failure to act with reasonable care in a given situation. Factors such as speeding, running a red light, distracted driving, or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs can contribute to assigning fault in a car accident.

State laws vary regarding fault determination in car accidents. Some states assign each party involved in the accident a percentage of fault based on their actions. Other states bar any party that played any role in causing the accident from recovering damages.

Will Speeding Affect Fault In A Car Accident Claim?

Speeding can significantly impact fault determination in a car accident claim. If a driver was speeding during the accident, you can use it as evidence of their negligence or recklessness. Speeding is considered a violation of traffic laws and is often used to establish fault in car accident cases.

In a personal injury claim, the party at fault for the accident may be held responsible for compensating the injured party for medical expenses, lost earnings, pain and suffering, and other damages. If a speeding driver caused your injury in a car accident, proving their negligence strengthens your case and boosts your chances of receiving fair compensation.

Can My Car Accident Attorney Prove The Other Driver Was Speeding?

Yes. If the other party’s speeding caused the car accident, your auto accident lawyer will reveal it during the investigation as follows:

• Police Reports and Citations: Your lawyer will obtain the police report from the accident scene. A speeding citation against the other driver provides strong initial evidence. The report may include officer observations, witness statements, or speed estimates based on skid marks or crash severity.
• Witness Testimony: Eyewitnesses who saw the other driver speeding or behaving recklessly can provide sworn statements or testify in court. Your lawyer may interview bystanders, passengers, or drivers to corroborate the speeding claim.
• Accident Reconstructionists: Your lawyer may hire an accident reconstructionist to analyze the crash. These professionals use physical evidence, such as skid marks, vehicle damage, road conditions, and crash dynamics, to estimate the vehicles’ speed and demonstrate how excessive speed contributed to the collision.
• Event Data Recorder (EDR) Evidence: Many modern vehicles have “black boxes” (EDRs) that record data like speed before a crash. Your lawyer can request this data (if available) to show the vehicle’s speed during the accident.
• Traffic Camera or Dashcam Footage: Your lawyer will check for traffic camera footage, recordings from nearby vehicles, or even security cameras that might have captured the speeding vehicle before or during the accident.
• Physical Evidence Analysis: Evidence like the extent of vehicle damage, length of skid marks, or debris scatter can help estimate speed. For example, severe damage or long skid marks often indicate high speed.
• Phone Records or GPS Data: Your lawyer may subpoena the at-fault driver’s phone records or GPS data to check if they were using navigation apps or texting, which can indicate distraction combined with speeding.
• Professional Testimony: Engineers, physicists, or forensic professionals may testify how speeding reduced the driver’s reaction time or increased the force of impact, directly linking speed to the accident’s outcome.
• Demonstrating Causation: Beyond proving speeding, your lawyer must show it caused the accident. They’ll argue that the excessive speed prevented the driver from stopping in time, navigating a turn, or avoiding the collision, using the above evidence to build a straightforward narrative.

What Is My Speeding Car Accident Claim Worth?

Determining the value of a speeding car accident claim depends on several factors, as every case is unique. First, your car accident attorney must prove that the other driver’s negligence and speeding caused the accident. Then, your case value will depend on these factors:

Severity of Injuries

The extent of your injuries is the most significant factor. Minor injuries (e.g., bruises, sprains) typically result in lower settlements, while severe or permanent injuries (e.g., broken bones, spinal injuries, traumatic brain injuries) lead to higher compensation.

Economic Damages

These include tangible losses like medical expenses (hospital bills, surgeries, rehabilitation), lost earnings (past and future), and property damage (vehicle repairs). For instance, medical expenses requiring hospitalization can average $57,000, significantly increasing claim value.

Non-Economic Damages

Pain and suffering, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life are harder to quantify. Insurers often use a multiplier method, multiplying economic damages by 1.5 to 5 based on injury severity. Severe injuries (e.g., permanent disability) warrant higher multipliers (4–5).

Liability and Fault

If the other driver was speeding and clearly at fault, your claim is more substantial, potentially leading to a higher settlement. For example, a speeding driver who ran a red light and caused a spinal injury resulted in a $1.3 million settlement for a passenger.

Insurance Policy Limits

The at-fault driver’s insurance coverage limits your payout. If the driver carries minimal coverage (like state minimums), your compensation limits may apply unless your policy includes uninsured/underinsured motorist (UM/UIM) coverage.

Evidence of Speeding

Proving the other driver was speeding strengthens your case. Evidence like police reports, witness statements, skid marks, or accident reconstructionists’ testimony can establish fault. Speeding shows negligence and raises the chances of securing a favorable settlement.

How Important Is Seeking Medical Attention After A Car Accident?

Getting medical attention after your car accident is critical for these reasons:

Health and Safety

• Some injuries, like concussions, internal bleeding, or whiplash, may not show immediate symptoms but can worsen without treatment. For example, traumatic brain injuries (TBIs) can have delayed symptoms like headaches or confusion, which, if left untreated, may lead to long-term complications.
• Speeding-related accidents often involve high-impact collisions, increasing the risk of severe injuries (e.g., fractures, spinal damage). Prompt medical evaluation diagnoses and treats injuries early, preventing complications.

Strengthens Your Claim

• Documentation: Medical records provide evidence of your injuries, linking them directly to the accident. This is critical for proving damages like medical expenses and pain and suffering. Without records, insurers may argue your injuries were pre-existing or unrelated.
• Establishes Causation: A doctor’s report can show that the accident (e.g., a high-speed collision) caused your injuries, countering insurer claims that other factors were responsible.
• Maximizes Compensation: Documented injuries, especially severe ones from speeding accidents, increase your claim’s value. For instance, a diagnosed spinal injury can push a settlement from $10,000 (minor injury) to $100,000+ (severe injury).

Avoids Gaps in Treatment

• Delaying medical care creates a “gap” that insurers use to argue your injuries lack seriousness or connection to the accident. For example, if you wait a week to see a doctor, the at-fault driver’s insurer may claim your pain stemmed from another event. This gap can weaken your claim and reduce the compensation you receive.
• Courts and insurers consider prompt treatment proof of a genuine injury, especially in high-stakes speeding cases with disputed fault. Acting quickly to document your injuries strengthens your case and helps establish a clear link between the accident and your damages.

Contact A Montana Car Accident Attorney Now

Contact an attorney near you to understand your rights and options in car accident cases. Don’t hesitate to seek legal guidance and support during this difficult time. A Billings personal injury attorney can review your case for free today and guide you through the first steps to secure the compensation you deserve.