Speeding is one of the most common causes of serious car accidents. When someone drives too fast, it reduces the time they have to react to dangers on the road. For victims of these accidents and their families, understanding how speeding affects the severity of a crash can help them seek the support and justice they deserve. Let our Fresno auto accident lawyer seek justice on your behalf.
The Consequences of Speeding on Accident Severity
Speeding affects the severity of car accidents in several important ways. Here’s how:
Increased Stopping Distance
When a driver speeds, their vehicle needs more distance to come to a complete stop. Even small increases in speed can add many extra feet before the brakes fully work. This longer stopping distance makes it harder to avoid collisions, especially in busy traffic or sudden emergencies.
Higher Impact Force
The faster a car is moving in a crash, the stronger the impact will be. Speeding causes collisions to happen with much more force, which can seriously damage vehicles and increase the chance of injury for everyone involved.
Decreased Reaction Time
Speeding leaves less time for drivers to see hazards and respond. When moving at high speeds, drivers have a smaller window to notice what’s ahead and take action, like braking or steering away from danger. This lack of reaction time raises the risk of accidents happening.
More Severe Injuries and Fatalities
Because of the greater forces involved, speeding often leads to more serious injuries and a higher likelihood of deaths. The human body can only handle so much impact, and crashes at high speeds are more likely to cause permanent damage or loss of life. If you’ve been injured in a car accident and believe it was the result of speeding, reach out for legal help as soon as possible.
Evidence Used to Prove Speeding in a Car Accident Claim
To prove that speeding played a role in a car accident, several types of evidence can be gathered to support a victim’s claim.
- Police Reports: Officers may estimate speed based on what they saw before the accident or by looking at the scene and things like skid marks. The police report will also say if anyone was given a traffic citation for speeding or other violations of the law.
- Dashcam or Traffic Cameras: Video footage can show how fast a vehicle was moving before the crash. This type of evidence can be very clear and hard to dispute.
- Witness Statements: People who saw the accident may have noticed the speed or reckless driving before the collision.
- Skid Marks and Vehicle Damage: The length of tire marks on the road or the extent of damage to the cars can be analyzed to estimate speed. Accident reconstruction experts use this information to calculate how fast a driver was going.
- Electronic Data from the Vehicle: Many modern cars record information like speed and braking in the moments before a crash. This data can be retrieved to show exactly how fast the driver was going.
Gathering a variety of evidence helps build a strong case to show that speeding contributed to the accident.
The Importance of Working With a Personal Injury Lawyer After a Speeding Accident
After a speeding accident, working with a Fresno personal injury lawyer can make a real difference in the legal and recovery process. These lawyers understand how complex injury claims can be. They know what evidence to gather and how to deal with insurance companies to help protect your rights. Having an experienced lawyer by your side ensures you’re not left to handle all the stress and paperwork alone. They can guide you through each step, so you can focus on healing while they work to secure the compensation you deserve. If you have any questions, we’re here for you. Contact us today to schedule a free consultation.