Speeding Accidents
Car Accident LawyerGet a Free Consultation
Car Accident Lawyer
Speeding accidents
Get a Free Consultation
Have you suffered from an injury in a speeding accident?
Speeding accidents are a major source of accident injuries and deaths. In 2023 on a typical day, over 32 people on average died in speeding accidents according to the National Safety Council (NSC). With greater speed comes greater force during an impact. This increases the likelihood of injuries and death. The legal system typically holds a speeding driver responsible in a car accident. This is because speeding breaks traffic laws, is dangerous, and puts other drivers in harm’s way. Under certain road conditions, the posted speed limit may not be safe. This fact may also lead you to wonder what constitutes “driving too fast for road conditions.”
What road conditions influence whether
a speed is safe or not?
“Driving too fast for road conditions” is a citable offense that police use in determining violations for speeding car accidents. A speed limit for dry road conditions may not be safe when roads are:
- Wet from rain
- Covered with snow or slush
- Contain ice or frost
- Filled with moving or standing water
- Covered with mud, dirt or gravel
Reasons Why Speeding Is So Dangerous
Decreased reaction time
When the vehicle is moving too fast, there is less time to react. For example, you can maneuver into a curve too fast and roll over or crash. You can swerve into other traffic lanes, lose control, and crash into other vehicles. In construction areas, you can collide into barriers. Other drivers might not be able to get out of your way in time.
Increased stopping distance
Based on the speed you’re traveling, stopping requires a certain amount of time and distance. The faster you’re going the more time and distance you require to stop. The increase could make it danger to avoid a driver in front of you who suddenly brakes. Or, it might make it difficult to steer clear of road debris.
Effectiveness of road safety features
Roads have safety features to make driving safter. Examples include: guard rails, median dividers, concrete barriers, and crash cushions or impact attenuators. Cushions and attenuators can absorb impact. Their placement is often at the end of guardrails or in construction zones. However, the greater the speed, the greater the impact, reducing the effectiveness of these road safety features.
Speeding accidents while driving under the influence (DUI)
Statistics show the relationship between drunk drivers, age and speeding accidents according to the National Safety Council (NSC ):
- Alcohol impaired drivers involved in fatal accidents under the age of 21 were 28%
- From ages 21–54, 41% of fatal crashes involved alcohol impaired drivers
- For drivers in the 55–64 age group fatal accidents declined, by comparison only reaching 35%
How age and gender relate to
speeding car accidents
Fewer females speed than male drivers. Studies indicated that as the age of the driver increased, the number of fatal crashes due to speeding decreased. Statistics were:
- Young male drivers between the ages of 15–20 and 21–24 were more likely to speed during fatal crashes.
- Fatal crashes in 2023 involved approximately 33% of young males in this age group.
- Of female drivers in this age group in 2023, 18% were speeding in fatal crashes.
Decreased reaction time
When the vehicle is moving too fast, there is less time to react. For example, you can maneuver into a curve too fast and roll over or crash. You can swerve into other traffic lanes, lose control, and crash into other vehicles. In construction areas, you can collide into barriers. Other drivers might not be able to get out of your way in time.
Increased stopping distance
Based on the speed you’re traveling, stopping requires a certain amount of time and distance. The faster you’re going the more time and distance you require to stop. The increase could make it danger to avoid a driver in front of you who suddenly brakes. Or, it might make it difficult to steer clear of road debris.
Effectiveness of road safety features
Roads have safety features to make driving safter. Examples include: guard rails, median dividers, concrete barriers, and crash cushions or impact attenuators. Cushions and attenuators can absorb impact. Their placement is often at the end of guardrails or in construction zones. However, the greater the speed, the greater the impact, reducing the effectiveness of these road safety features.
Speeding accidents while driving
under the influence (DUI)
Statistics show the relationship between drunk drivers, age and speeding accidents (according to the NSC):
- Alcohol impaired drivers involved in fatal accidents under the age of 21 were 28%
- From ages 21–54, 41% of fatal crashes involved alcohol impaired drivers
- For drivers in the 55–64 age group fatal accidents declined, only reaching 35%
Speeding accidents while driving
under the influence (DUI)
Fewer females speed than male drivers. Studies indicated that as the age of the driver increased, the number of fatal crashes due to speeding decreased. Statistics were:
- Young male drivers between the ages of 15–20 and 21–24 were more likely to speed during fatal crashes.
- Fatal crashes in 2023 involved approximately 33% of young males in this age group.
- Of female drivers in this age group in 2023, 18% were speeding in fatal crashes.
Get Legal Help for
Severe Injury or Vehicle Damage due to Speeding Car Accidents
Your chances of receiving compensation for your accident are often good if the other party was speeding. Texas bases car insurance on the liability of the person causing the accident. If your injuries and damages are serious, it is wise to obtain an attorney. The insurance company of the liable driver often tries to argue their driver was not at fault or tries to minimize the amount of damages. Even in no-fault insurance states, our clients might be able to recover compensation. To ensure you receive justice, we can determine the extent of liability and fight to protect your rights to recovery.
Law Office of
Michael R. De La Paz
Contact Us
Schedule a Free Consultation
The Law Office of Michael R. De La Paz has its principal office in San Antonio, Texas, however, we can represent your personal injury case no matter where you live in Texas, the U.S., or Mexico.
