There is an important reason why every public road in Pennsylvania has speed limits posted for drivers. Speeding can have deadly consequences and is a leading cause of fatal automobile accidents. When drivers speed, they lose the ability to react to hazards in time to prevent serious accidents. According to auto accident lawyers in Pittsburgh, speeding also increases the severity of collisions, and drastically reduces a victim’s odds of surviving the crash.
Speeding-Related Deaths By the Numbers
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that, on average, speeding has been involved in approximately one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities in the last 20 years. In 2022, speeding was a confirmed contributing factor in 29 percent of all traffic accident deaths. There were 12,151 speeding-related deaths in 2022 alone. The largest demographic for speeding-related deaths in 2022 were males ages 15 to 20.
Why Is Speeding So Dangerous?
Speeding directly correlates to a reduced ability to control a motor vehicle. The higher the speed a motor vehicle is driven, the more likely it is that the driver will be unable to stop or safely maneuver the car if a hazard arises. If another car suddenly stops in the middle of the road, for example, a driver who is speeding may not be able to bring the car to a safe stop in time to prevent a rear-end collision.
Speeding also increases the risk of a driver losing control of a vehicle completely. Driving at dangerously high speeds compromises the level of control a driver has over a car. At high speeds, turning the steering wheel even a small amount could lead to the car careening off the side of the road, crashing into a tree or wall, or flipping over. Even if the brakes are applied, the stopping distance can be great enough to fail the driver at a critical moment.
Speeding Increases Crash and Injury Severity
Speeding not only increases the risk of car accidents occurring, but also the severity of collisions that do happen. For example, a vehicle that is traveling too fast for conditions may trigger a chain reaction crash rather than only a single rear-end collision. It may strike the first car with such speed and force that it pushes that car into multiple other vehicles in front of it – endangering even more lives.
Finally, accidents that involve speeding generally result in more serious injuries. Car accident injuries are caused by the force of the impact between the vehicles involved. At higher speeds, a greater amount of force is exerted on vehicle occupants. This can lead to serious and catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain damage and permanent spinal cord injuries. Sadly, many victims do not survive high-speed collisions.
What Are Your Rights if a Loved One Dies in a Speeding-Related Accident?
When a speeding driver causes a deadly car accident, surviving loved ones of the deceased person(s) may be eligible for financial compensation through wrongful death claims. In Pennsylvania, “wrongful death” means the loss of a life due to the wrongful act, neglect, unlawful violence or negligence of another person (42 Pa. C.S.A. Section 8301).
Pittsburgh injury lawyers explain that if it can be proven by the filing party that the at-fault driver caused the accident through a reckless act such as excessive speeding, this can be enough to qualify surviving family members for an insurance settlement or judgment award.
A successful wrongful death claim brought against a speeding driver could lead to the recovery of damages for funeral and burial costs, medical expenses, property repairs, pain and suffering, lost wages and inheritance, and more.
While no amount of money is enough to make up for a loss of a life in a speeding-related accident, it can help surviving family members move forward with less financial stress. To discuss a fatal car accident case with an attorney in detail, contact Dallas W. Hartman, P.C. for a free consultation.