Car Crashes Caused by Speeding
Speeding is one of the deadliest driver behaviors. It is responsible for thousands of serious and fatal automobile accidents each year. Driving at a speed that is not safe for the conditions of the weather, road or traffic increases the odds of the driver losing control of the vehicle and causing harm to other people. If you get injured in an accident involving a speeding driver, find out how an attorney can help you seek fair financial compensation.
How Common Is Speeding?
Speeding is consistently one of the top factors involved in fatal traffic accidents in the United States. In 2022, the National Safety Council reported that almost one-third (29 percent) of traffic accident fatalities were caused by speeding, taking the lives of 12,151 victims. Statistics show that male drivers – especially young male drivers in the 15 to 24 age group – are more likely to engage in speeding than female drivers.
How Many Accidents in Colorado Are Caused by Speeding?
Colorado’s speed-related car accident statistics are similar to national data. Speeding is consistently identified as a top contributing factor to fatal accidents in the state, according to the Colorado Department of Transportation. Statistics from 2020 show a total of 287 speeding-related traffic deaths in Colorado – a 20 percent increase from 2019. The majority of these collisions (40 percent) took place on rural roads.
The Dangers of Speeding
Drivers are required by law to maintain safe and reasonable speeds. They must keep a vehicle at or below posted speed limits and reduce their speeds in dangerous conditions, such as bad weather. Driving too fast for the circumstances, even without exceeding the speed limit, constitutes speeding. Speeding interferes with a driver’s ability to safely control a motor vehicle and react to changing roadway situations in time to prevent a crash.
When a vehicle is traveling at an unsafe speed, there is greater potential for a loss of vehicle control. The driver may veer off the road and crash into another driver or a fixed object, for example. It also increases the distance needed to bring a vehicle to a stop. Finally, increased speed increases the force and velocity of the collision, which enhances the damage inflicted and the injuries suffered by those involved.
How to Prove a Car Accident Claim Involving Speeding
If you get hurt or a loved one dies in a car crash caused by speeding in Colorado, you will have the burden of proof in a related car insurance claim. This means that you or your attorney must show using clear and convincing evidence that the other driver was exceeding the speed limit or driving too fast for conditions, and that this was the proximate cause of your car accident.
Evidence to support a speeding-related car crash claim can include:
- A traffic ticket or citation given to the speeding driver at the scene
- The driver’s history of speeding tickets
- Traffic or surveillance video camera footage
- Statements from witnesses who saw the crash take place
- Physical evidence at the scene, such as skid marks
- The severity of damage to both vehicles
Hiring an experienced car accident lawyer in Fort Collins can make it easier to prove your case against a speeding driver. Your lawyer will search for detailed records and evidence to support your claim and prove fault. If necessary, your lawyer can hire a highly qualified car accident expert to testify regarding the other driver’s speed. An attorney will fight for maximum financial compensation on your behalf.
To discuss a potential car accident case involving speeding with an attorney, request a free consultation at Cannon Law.