Speeding
One of the most common causes of catastrophic car accidents is speeding. In 2017, 26 percent of all traffic fatalities were speeding-related, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). If you were injured or you lost a loved one in a speeding accident, a skilled Virginia Beach car accident lawyer can help.
Any time speeding is involved, it exacerbates an already dangerous situation. There is a greater potential that a speeding driver will lose control of their vehicle, be unable to stop in time to avoid an accident, and cause more severe injuries in a crash. The NHTSA reports that speeding has been a factor in approximately one-third of all fatal motor vehicle accidents for more than two decades. According to the agency’s 2017 data, there were over 200 speeding-related traffic fatalities in Virginia that year alone.
Reasons Why People Speed
Most people speed because they are late and try to get somewhere fast. However, contrary to popular belief, speeding does not save much time. According to AAA, a person traveling 65 miles per hour in a 45 mile-per-hour zone only saves 1.9 minutes on a five-minute trip.
Other reasons why drivers speed include:
- Age/inexperience
- Anonymity
- Being under the influence of drugs or alcohol
- Distractions
- General disregard for the law
- Frustration with traffic congestion
- Road rage
- Emergencies
Common Speeding-Related Car Accident Injuries
Those who are injured in speeding-related car accidents are more likely to be killed or suffer serious injuries. The type and severity of injuries a person suffers in a car accident depends upon several factors, such as whether someone was speeding, whether they were wearing a seat belt, and where their car was hit. Some of the most common speeding-related injuries our Virginia Beach car accident lawyers have seen include:
Impact Injuries
Impact injuries are those that are caused when a passenger hits or is thrown against a moving or stationary object. The extent of this type of injury varies according to the velocity and direction of the impact, the point of impact, and other factors. Common impact injuries include:
- Bruising
- Chest injuries
- Concussions/Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Joint dislocation
- Musculoskeletal injuries
- Spinal cord injuries
- Whiplash
Penetrating Injuries
A penetrating injury occurs when an object penetrates part of a driver or passenger’s body. This type of injury becomes more fatal when speeding is involved; objects traveling at a higher velocity cause greater damage. Some common types of penetrating injuries resulting from car accidents include those to the:
- Abdomen
- Chest
- Extremities
- Head
- Pelvis
NHTSA Safety Tips
One of the NHTSA’s main objectives is to reduce the number of deaths, injuries, and economic losses from motor vehicle crashes. The administration provides safety recommendations for dealing with speeding drivers, such as to:
- Give them plenty of space
- Let speeding/aggressive drivers pass
- Pull over or call the police if being harassed
Compensation for Speeding-Related Car Accident Injuries in Virginia
Those who are injured in car accidents in Virginia may be entitled to economic and non-economic damages to compensate for their injuries. Economic damages are those that compensate the victim for monetary losses, such as medical expenses, lost wages, and loss of future earning capacity. Non-economic damages are those that cannot be objectively quantified in terms of money, such as pain and suffering, loss of consortium, and emotional distress.
In Virginia, car accident victims have two years from the date of their accident to file personal injury claims against the speeding drivers who caused their injuries. Virginia is one of only a few states that follows contributory negligence. This means that if the victim was even one percent at fault for their accident, they may not be able to recover. It is therefore critical to seek qualified legal counsel for this type of claim.
Our Virginia Beach Car Accident Lawyers Help Victims of Speeding-Related Accidents Obtain Compensation for Their Injuries
If you were injured in a speeding-related accident, contact a Virginia Beach car accident lawyer. At East Coast Trial Lawyers, we can explain your rights and help you obtain the maximum amount of damages to which you are entitled. For a free consultation, please complete our online contact form or call us at 757-352-2237. Located in Virginia Beach, Virginia, we serve clients throughout Chesapeake, Eastern Shores, Hampton, Newport News, Norfolk, Portsmouth, and Suffolk, as well as North Carolina and nationwide.