Car accidents are a huge issue for drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians in the United States. In fact, every year, these accidents cause more than 4.4 million serious injuries across the country.
If you have been involved in a car accident, you may be entitled to financial compensation. A car accidents lawyer in Houston, Texas will be able to help you make a claim.
However, to do this, you need to be able to determine the cause of your accident. A whole range of things can cause accidents, including exceeding the speed limit.
So how do speeding cars cause accidents on roads around America? Read on to find out everything you need to know.
How Can Speeding Cause a Car Accident?
Your car’s speed has a huge impact on road safety. This is why all public roads in America have a speed limit.
Nevertheless, driving at unsafe speeds still causes more than 10,000 accidents every year. So why does speeding cause such a serious issue for road users? Let’s take a closer look.
Loss of Control
Driving your car at high speed increases the risk of you losing control of it. This is because you have less time to react to changes and small movements can make a big difference.
As a result, speeding drivers a more likely to swerve while on the road. Cars traveling at speed are also harder to stop carefully. Because of this, they are more likely to roll during an accident.
Increased Stopping Time and Distance
The faster you drive, the longer it will take to bring your car to a standstill. You’ll also travel further during this time.
This means that it is more difficult to avoid collisions when traveling at speed. If a car stops suddenly or there is debris on the road, you might not be able to stop safely in time.
High-Speed Collisions Have a Greater Impact
Traveling at more speed also means that you will hit vehicles, property, or pedestrians with more force.
As a result, the damage caused by a high-speed collision is much more severe. When your car crashes, the impact on your body will be greater, and you can seriously injure anyone you hit.
These accidents often result in serious injuries, such as neck and spinal injuries and traumatic brain injuries.
Safety Precautions May Not Work
Your car is fitted with various safety precautions designed to protect you during an accident. This includes your safety belts and airbags.
However, these safety mechanisms need time to work effectively. If a crash happens very suddenly, they may not work in time. As a result, you will suffer much more serious injuries.
Dangerous Speeding Behaviors On the Road
When it comes to car accidents and speeding, most people think of drivers exceeding the speed limit. These drivers can cause a lot of damage during an accident.
However, this isn’t the only danger you need to be aware of. In fact, there are two other types of speed-related behavior that can also cause accidents.
Driving Too Slowly
Driving too slowly might make you feel like you’re safe and in control, but it can actually be incredibly dangerous. This is because drivers around you may not be able to accurately judge your maneuvers on the road.
For example, let’s say you try to turn out of a junction or switch driving lanes. If you do this too slowly, another driver may misjudge how much space you need. As a result, they could crash into you or have to brake suddenly, causing an accident.
In that case, the slow driver is at fault for the accident.
Not Driving At a Safe Speed For the Road Conditions
Experienced drivers know that they should adjust their speed depending on the conditions they are driving in. This is because they can affect your stopping distance.
For example, wet weather can at least double the stopping distance of your vehicle. Loose road surfaces or closed lanes may also mean that you need to reduce your speed.
Because of this, it isn’t always safe to drive at the speed limit. In fact, doing this in dangerous road conditions could easily cause an accident.
How Does Speeding Affect a Car Accident Case?
When it comes to car accidents, every state handles claims differently.
In Texas, you can file an at-fault claim. This means that if someone is responsible for your accident (“at fault”) they have to pay for the damages caused by the accident.
There are many reasons why someone can be liable for a car accident. Most of these focus on their driving behavior and whether or not it was negligent. This basically means whether or not they were driving safely and obeying the rules of the road.
As we’ve already mentioned, speeding can seriously increase the risk of you causing an accident while on the road in a number of ways. Because of this, a person may be liable for an accident if they:
- Were speeding
- Were driving dangerously slow
- Failed to adjust their speed to suit the road conditions
So if you were involved in an accident with a speeding driver, you could make a claim against them.
Proving That Your Accident Was Speed-Related
To make a claim against a speeding driver, you have to be able to prove that their behavior was negligent. Fortunately, there are plenty of places you can look for evidence to support your claim.
This includes:
- Getting CCTV footage of the accident itself
- Obtaining a copy of the police report
- Collecting eye-witness testimony about the accident
- Asking an expert to analyze the damage caused by the accident and tire marks at the scene
This will all help you establish that the driver in question was speeding before or during your accident.
Getting Compensation For Your Accident
Once you have evidence to show that a speeding driver is liable for your accident, you can look at the damages you are owed. This will help you calculate how much to seek in a settlement.
There are two different types of damages to include in your claim: economic and non-economic.
Economic Damages
Economic damages help you recover your financial losses after a car accident. This means that you don’t need to make a claim on your own insurance policy.
Economic damages can include:
- Medical bills
- The cost of equipment you need after your accident
- The cost of installing or running this equipment
- The cost of repairing or replacing your car
- The cost of damage to your property during the accident
- Loss of income due to the time taken off work for your recovery or work that you can no longer do
- The cost of therapy
- The cost of hiring help to complete daily tasks after your accident
So make sure you keep a note of everything you have spent (or missed out on) after your accident. You can use this to support your settlement claim.
Non-Economic Damages
Car accidents don’t just have a financial impact on your life. In fact, the emotional stress of an accident can be much harder to handle.
Because of this, you can claim non-economic damages for:
- Emotional distress caused by your accident
- Physical pain, suffering, disfigurement, and impairment
- Reduced enjoyment of life
- Personal relationships that have suffered as a result of your accident
- Anxiety or PTSD that may make it challenging to drive again after your accident
- Loss of companionship (if you lose a loved one in an accident)
This type of compensation doesn’t just provide financial support. It can also give you a sense of justice for the physical and emotional pain you experienced as a result of your accident.
Hire a Car Accident Lawyer in Houston
In order to make a case for your accident, you will need to file a claim against the liable party. Before doing this, it is a good idea to speak to a car accident lawyer in Houston.
They will review your case and let you know whether or not you have a claim to make. Once you’ve hired them, they will also:
- File the claim on your behalf
- Ensure that you meet all of the legal deadlines for making your claim
- Represent you when meeting with the liable party or their insurance company
- Gather evidence to support your claim and the damages you are owed
This means that you will have support from a legal team that really understands the ins and outs of car accident claims. This can seriously improve your chances of making a successful claim and getting a fair settlement.
How to Choose a Car Accident Lawyer in Texas
After an accident, you want the best car accident lawyer in Houston on your side. In that case, you should look for lawyers:
- With plenty of experience handling car accident cases
- With a great success rate for their claims
- Who communicates well
- Who have amazing client reviews
Keeping these tips in mind will ensure you find an amazing lawyer to help with your claim.
Get Help From a Car Accidents Lawyer in Houston Today
As you can see, speeding doesn’t just increase the chances of a car accident. It also means that accidents that do occur will result in more serious injuries and property damage.
If you have been in an accident involving a speeding driver, a car accidents lawyer in Houston, Texas, can help you get the compensation you deserve.
In that case, get in touch with the O’Hara Law Firm today. We’re happy to help.