How Often Does Speeding Cause Car Accidents?

 Posted on June 25, 2021 in Car Accidents

There are many different types of dangerous traffic violations. Driving above the speed limit is one of the most common ways that people violate traffic laws, and it can put multiple people at risk of being injured in car accidents. Victims of motor vehicle collisions have options for receiving financial compensation for their damages. By working with a personal injury lawyer, they can take the necessary steps to hold a negligent driver responsible for injuries caused by speeding or other traffic violations.

Car Accident Statistics

Over the last decade, speeding has resulted in between 9,000 and 10,000 deaths each year for motor vehicle drivers, passengers, and others, accounting for 25-30 percent of all fatalities in car accidents. However, in addition to fatal collisions, there are nearly 2 million car accidents every year that result in injuries. This means that around 500,000 people suffer injuries each year due to drivers who exceed the speed limit, or around 1,300 people per day.

The Dangers of Speeding

Speed limits are set at levels that are meant to be safe based on how roads are used, how often vehicles will need to stop or make turns, and the presence of pedestrians or slower-moving vehicles. When drivers exceed these speed limits, they become more likely to collide with others. 

Speeding-related collisions often occur because a driver is unable to slow down or stop quickly enough. If a vehicle slows down to make a turn, a driver following that vehicle may not be able to react in time to avoid a rear-end collision. Speeding drivers may also not have time to slow down to avoid pedestrians crossing in a crosswalk or unexpected obstacles in the road, or they may lose control of their vehicle when going around curves in the road or changing lanes.

In addition to making collisions more likely, speeding can increase the severity of an accident. Vehicles traveling more quickly will have more momentum, which will increase the energy of an impact. Because of this, people in other vehicles, motorcyclists, pedestrians, or bicyclists will be likely to suffer more serious injuries in a collision.

Contact Our Springfield Car Accident Attorneys

When a car accident occurs, the driver who caused the collision may be held liable for the injuries inflicted on other people involved. At Kanoski Bresney, we help accident victims prove that they were injured by a driver’s negligence, and we work to ensure that our clients are fully compensated for their damages. To get legal help following a speeding-related collision, contact our Champaign car accident lawyers at 888-826-8682 and set up a free consultation.

Sources:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding

https://injuryfacts.nsc.org/motor-vehicle/motor-vehicle-safety-issues/speeding/

https://cdan.nhtsa.gov/tsftables/National%20Statistics.pdf