All too often, people believe that speed limits are suggestions but in fact they are based on science – the science of how fast a person can drive to be relatively safe. When a person decides to go significantly over that speed and is involved in a car accident, the results can be disastrous. Keep reading to learn why serious injuries are more common the faster a person is traveling. Then contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 if you have been involved in an accident and require a free legal consultation with an attorney.
Speeding is Leading Cause of Accidents
The truth is that more than one in three of all fatal accidents on the road involve speeding. That is more than 9,000 people who lose their lives each year due to an accident caused by speeding. This makes speeding one of the top causes of not just deaths on the road but accidents and injuries as well. Any way you look at it, the truth is the same: Speeding is extremely dangerous.
Reasons People Speed
Are you surprised to learn that 70% of drivers speed? And that most of them feel that speeding is just a minor issue and essentially harmless? Speed limits are actually based on the neighborhood in which the driver is, the terrain of that neighborhood, and how likely it is that there will be pedestrians, amongst other factors.
However, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) found that people speed for a variety of reasons. They may want to avoid traffic and congestion, they may think that safely sharing the road is important, they could be running late to something, or they could feel that it is an anonymous, harmless crime.
Ways in Which Speeding Leads to Serious Accidents
Part of the issue appears to be that people often do not realize how serious the consequences of speeding can be. The truth is that for every mile over the speed limit a person is driving, their chances increase of losing control of their vehicle. The safety equipment on their vehicles (which is designed for specific speeds) no longer works as well, the length needed to stop increases, crashes are more serious, injuries are more serious, and the legal and financial consequences go up.
If you have been injured in an accident with a speeding car, or if you have lost a loved one in this way, you can contact The Law Offices of Larry H. Parker at 800-333-0000 for a free legal consultation. We are happy to discuss your options and to let you know what legal choices you can make. Call now and let us get you back on track.