Why is Speeding So Dangerous?
Many people live busy lives. They drive fast because they are always in a hurry to get to their destinations. However, regardless of how late you are, it is important to avoid exceeding the posted speed limits. Remember, it is more important to arrive at your destination safely than to arrive on time.
The following are some of the reasons why speeding is so dangerous:
- Increasing the severity of the crash and resulting injuries
- Reducing the benefits of safety equipment
- Increasing the risk of you losing control of your vehicle
- Reducing the tires’ ability to grip the road
- Increasing the distance you need to stop after a perceived danger
- Increasing the chance of a rollover, especially in SUVs
Sometimes a person might feel that a speed limit on a certain road should be higher than posted. However, speed limits are not chosen arbitrarily. They were chosen based on recommendations from safety engineers who have examined decades of data on factors that contribute to auto accidents. These studies include things such as lane width, road capacity, the number of intersections, and how straight the road is.
Why Do Drivers Speed?
Drivers in New Jersey and New York have a reputation for being fast and aggressive drivers. Despite the constant warning given to drivers that speeding is a danger to public safety, many motorists continue to drive above the posted speed limit.
Drivers speed for a variety of different reasons, including:
- Running late: They overslept, got caught in a traffic jam, or are late for some other reason, so they try to make up for the lost time by speeding
- Habit: Drivers often drive over the posted speed limit out of habit, especially when traveling on familiar roadways
- The thrill: Some drivers, especially young adults, enjoy the thrill and excitement they feel when driving at excessive speeds
- Drugs or alcohol: Drivers under the influence of drugs or alcohol usually make poor driving choices including speeding
- Distracted driving: A motorist who is talking to passengers or singing along to the radio may not be paying attention to the speedometer and unintentionally speed
- Road rage: Angry or frustrated drivers may vent their feelings by driving at dangerous speeds
- Unaware of the speed limit: A person driving on an unfamiliar road may not be aware of the speed limit and speed unintentionally
- Overconfidence: A driver who has spent many hours behind the wheel without being involved in an accident may feel like speeding has no repercussions
Speeding Results in Severe Injuries
Car accident injuries tend to be more severe when high speeds are involved. Tragically, some speeding accidents result in fatalities.
Common injuries sustained by speeding accident victims include:
- Broken bones
- Cuts and bruises
- Back and chest injuries
- Wrist and arm injuries
- Burns
- Soft tissue damage
- Internal bleeding
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
If you have sustained one of these or other injuries in a speeding accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical bills and other losses. The skilled personal injury lawyers at our law firm know what is needed to help you recover the fair compensation you deserve.
Why Hire a Speeding Accident Lawyer
Recovering fair compensation after a car accident is often anything but a simple process. The negligent driver probably is not going to openly admit to speeding. In addition, insurance companies will look for any reason to minimize or outright deny the payout of a claim.
When you hire an experienced car accident attorney to take the lead on your case, you have a greater chance of being fully compensated for your injuries. At Judd Shaw Injury Law, we care about our clients and work diligently to ensure they receive the monetary settlements they deserve.
After taking on your speeding accident claim, our legal team will take some or all of the following steps to build a solid case for you:
- Investigating the cause of the accident
- Identifying all liable parties
- Gathering evidence to prove the other driver was speeding
- Working with experts such as accident reconstructionists, law enforcement officers, and engineers
- Minimizing allegations that you share responsibility for any part of the accident
- Handling all communication with the insurance company and other interested parties
- Negotiating a just and fair settlement
- Presenting your case in court if needed
It is important to contact a lawyer as soon as possible after the speeding accident. Memories and evidence can fade and disappear over time. Our legal team will build your case based on solid evidence, facts, and expert testimony.
How Do You Prove the Other Driver Was Speeding?
In order to recover compensation for damages sustained in a car accident, you will first need to prove that the other driver was negligent. Often, at-fault drivers will deny this, and their insurer is sure to try to avoid a payout, so they won’t help you. If you suspect that the driver had been speeding, then that is specifically what you and your personal injury attorney will need to prove.
At Judd Shaw Injury Law, our legal team knows how to gather evidence to help verify the speed of the other driver and prove they were speeding.
To do so, our speeding accident lawyers may:
- Assess the damage to your vehicle
- Review video from surveillance cameras and dash cams
- Visit the scene of the accident to analyze skid marks and road debris
- Consult with accident reconstructionists, engineers, law enforcement officers, forensic scientists, and other experts
- Interview eyewitnesses
- Request copies of medical records and police reports
- Obtain data from the vehicle’s GPS or black box
One of the best forms of evidence in a speeding accident case is a traffic citation. If the other driver was issued a ticket for speeding, a copy of the citation can be obtained and used as evidence.
Compensation Available to Speeding Accident Victims
If you have been injured in a speeding accident, you deserve to be compensated for your injuries. With Judd Shaw Injury Law on your side, you can have the peace of mind that your legal rights are being upheld. Our speeding accident lawyers will do all they can to help you recover full compensation, while you focus on what matters most – your recovery.
The amount of compensation you are entitled to will depend on a number of different factors, including the extent of your injuries and who was liable for the accident. Your car accident lawyer will be able to calculate the value of your claim and help you pursue fair compensation.
You may be entitled to recover money for the damages:
- Medical expenses: This can include compensation for ambulance rides, emergency room visits, hospital stays, surgeries, prescriptions, medical devices, and more
- Property damage: If your vehicle was damaged, you could recover money to repair or replace it
- Lost wages: This is compensation for the income you lost if you were unable to work for a period of time as a result of the accident
- Pain and suffering: These types of damages are to compensate for the mental, emotional, and physical pain and suffering a person has endured as a result of the accident
- Loss of enjoyment: These damages are awarded when a serious injury impacts a person’s way of life
- Wrongful death: If you have suffered the tragic loss of a loved one in a speeding accident, you may be eligible to recover compensation for funeral costs, burial expenses, medical bills incurred as a result of the accident, and more
Contact a Speeding Accident Lawyer Today
Were you or someone you love injured in a speeding accident? If so, you do not have to go through the legal process alone. The car accident lawyers at Judd Shaw Injury Law are here to advocate for your right to full and fair compensation.
It is important to contact a speeding accident attorney as soon as possible after your accident. There is a two-year statute of limitations on most car accident cases in New York and New Jersey. If you do not file a claim within this time frame, you may lose out on your right to recover compensation.
Our law firm believes everyone is entitled to quality legal representation, regardless of his or her current financial situation. We thus offer all clients a No Fee Guarantee®, which means you will not have to pay us any upfront costs or fees. Our law firm only gets paid if your case is successful and you are awarded a settlement.
Schedule your free case assessment with a speeding accident lawyer today. Complete the online form or call us at 866-909-6894 anytime, day or night. We want to help.