When Can Speeding Violations Lead to Car Accidents?

 Posted on September 14, 2022 in Car Accidents

Drivers regularly commit traffic violations out of carelessness, because they are behind schedule, or simply because they do not believe that it is necessary to obey the law. Speeding is one of the most common violations, and most drivers exceed the speed limit at some point, whether they are traveling on familiar roads during their daily commutes or taking long road trips. Unfortunately, speeding can significantly increase the likelihood of car accidents, which may cause serious injuries or even fatalities. 

Why Speeding Puts Other People on the Road in Danger

While speeding is not always the direct cause of car accidents, it is a contributing factor in many collisions. Traveling at faster speeds increases the distance that a driver needs to stop, and it also makes it more difficult to maneuver around obstacles. In fact, statistics show that in the United States, around 10,000 people are killed in car accidents involving speeding each year, making up more than 25 percent of all fatal traffic accidents. This issue has become even more serious in recent years; in 2020, 11,258 people were killed because of speeding, accounting for 29 percent of car accident fatalities.

Speeding can lead to multiple types of car accidents, including:

• Rear-end collisions - When a speeding driver is following behind another vehicle, they may not have enough time to brake if the car ahead of them slows down or stops. Speed limits are set at a speed that will ensure that drivers can slow down when needed based on regular traffic patterns in the area, and exceeding these speed limits increases the chances that a person will not be able to slow down when necessary.

• T-bone collisions - These types of accidents occur when speeding drivers fail to check that an intersection is clear, causing them to collide with the side of another vehicle that is crossing an intersection. Illinois law requires drivers to decrease speed when approaching and traveling through an intersection to ensure that they can avoid these types of collisions.

• Head-on collisions - Speeding drivers may lose control of their vehicles, especially when negotiating curves in the road. This may cause them to veer into oncoming traffic and strike other vehicles traveling in the opposite direction. These accidents are particularly dangerous because the speed of vehicles and the force of an impact will often lead to fatalities or catastrophic injuries.

• Rollover accidents - Vehicles that are traveling at high speeds will be more likely to turn over if a driver loses control. These accidents occur when a driver collides with another vehicle, when their tires leave the roadway, or when they need to swerve around obstacles in the road, and speeding will significantly increase the chances of rollovers in these situations. 

• Pedestrian accidents - A driver who is speeding may not be able to stop in time if a pedestrian crosses the road. Traveling at unsafe speeds will affect a driver's ability to see and respond to pedestrians in or near the road, especially at night, and this can lead to serious injuries or fatalities.

Contact Our Peoria Car Accident Attorneys for Speeding

If you have been injured in a car accident that was caused by speeding, it is important to discuss your case with an experienced attorney. At Kanoski Bresney, our Decatur car accident lawyers understand how speeding can lead to dangerous collisions and serious injuries, and we will fight to help you recover the compensation that you deserve. Call our office at 888-826-8682 to set up a free consultation today.

Sources:

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

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

https://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/fulltext.asp?DocName=062500050K11-601