How Excessive Speed Increases Deadly Car Accidents

The expression ‘speed kills’ often applies to California car accidents. Science shows for every 10 MPH faster you travel, the risk of dying in a car wreck doubles. Also, as vehicle speed rises, so do the chances of severe injuries. One study in 2018 estimated that speeding caused ⅓ of traffic fatalities or 9,378. The National Safety Council (NSC) also reports speeding was involved in 29% of traffic deaths in 2020.

Learn more below about how speeding increases the chances of deadly auto accidents. If you have already been in a car accident, contact Glendale car accident lawyers Ourfalian & Ourfalian for a complimentary consultation.

Most Common Speeding Drivers and Scenarios

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) gathers statistics about U.S. auto accidents. The agency reports that young men are the most likely to speed and get in fatal crashes. The NHTSA also says about ⅓ of male drivers between 15 and 24 in fatal wrecks in 2013 were speeding. Further, 42% of speeding drivers in deadly accidents were intoxicated at the time.

The IIHS adds that while most drivers speed from time to time, fatal speeding accidents are most common on expressways and highways. In addition, studies suggest that traffic going over posted speed limits can be as high as 72% on highways.

How Speed Can Kill In Auto Accidents

We all understand the faster we move, the harder it is to stop. Unfortunately, that is the case with a speeding car, too. The Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS) reports that speed raises the odds of deadly accidents in these ways:

• Increases the distance a car travels between the time you see and respond to an emergency.
• Increases the distance you need to stop your car when you press the brake.
• Increases the energy expended in a crash. For instance, when crash speed rises from 40 MPH to 60 MPH, the expended energy in the crash doubles.

If you drive too fast, the force of the crash can be so catastrophic that the vehicle cannot maintain structural integrity. As a result, the car’s passenger compartment may collapse, leaving occupants dead or severely injured. When the vehicle speed is too high, seatbelts and airbags are of limited assistance, too.

How Speeding Affects Auto Accident Liability

If another driver was speeding and caused a severe or deadly accident, this can be used against them in a personal injury lawsuit. Speeding is an obvious type of negligence, which is how liability is proven in an accident. The accident probably would not have happened and injured or killed someone if they were not speeding.

A Glendale car accident lawyer may rely on the following evidence to prove the other driver was speeding:

• Police report
• Statements from eyewitnesses
• Evidence from the accident scene
• Dashcam and traffic light video
• Crash data from the vehicle’s ‘black box’
• Opinions from vehicle crash experts
• Skid marks

While the speeding driver may be held liable in a serious or fatal car accident, not every accident is clear-cut. For example, a driver hits you at high speed at a red light. As a result, you suffer a broken arm and whiplash. This could lead to shared liability.

In Illinois, there is a comparative negligence standard for car accidents. This means you can only recover damages if you were less than 50% at fault for the accident. So, for example, if you were 40% liable for a speeding accident with $20,000 in damages, you may only receive $12,000 in a potential settlement.

If you are in a car accident where liability may be shared with a speeding driver, you must review the case with an Illinois car accident lawyer.

Why Do People Speed?

Speeding is aggressive driving that can be dangerous and deadly. Most people are aware of this, so why do they do it? The NHTSA reports these as the most common reasons people speed:

Traffic Congestion

Traffic frustrates people and leads to aggressive driving, including speeding and tailgating. Drivers often respond to traffic by speeding, cutting off other drivers, and getting angry at slower drivers.

Running Behind Schedule

Many of us drive too fast because we are late. Whether it is work, school, or another appointment, speeding can cause serious accidents when people are rushed.

Anonymity

A car usually insulates us from our surroundings. When we are shielded from others, we may feel detached. This can cause some drivers to feel freer to drive aggressively.

Disregard For Other Drivers

Most of us do not usually drive aggressively. However, a segment of the population often drives aggressively, increasing the chances of fatal accidents.

How To Deal With Speeders

Speeding drivers affect others, including drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicyclists. So if you see speeders on the road, here are some critical safety tips:

• If you are driving in the left lane and another driver wants to pass, signal and move over. Do not get frustrated and slow down; this can lead to more aggressive driving.
• Give the speeder a lot of space. The faster the driver goes, the more likely they will lose control.
• Tailor your driving. We know that aggressive drivers speed. If you have a speeder following you, get out of the way safely. It is not worth the risk to engage in aggressive driving.
• Call law enforcement if a speeder harasses or follows you.

Contact Glendale Car Accident Lawyers Now

You may face huge medical bills if you or a loved one is in a severe car accident. You also may not be able to work for months. Who will pay these bills and your other expenses during your accident recovery?

Glendale car accident lawyers Ourfalian & Ourfalian have represented California auto accident clients for many years. Our attorneys can tap many kinds of evidence to determine if speeding was a factor in your accident.

Ourfalian & Ourfalian represent drivers and passengers in Encino, Alhambra, Arcadia, Burbank, Glendale, El Monte, Granada Hills, Los Angeles, Monterey Park, North Hollywood, Pasadena, Van Nuys, and surrounding communities in Southern California and the San Fernando Valley. Please contact us today for a complimentary consultation at: (818) 550-7777.