At the Nava Law Group, our Houston personal injury lawyers Mark Levin know how tempting it can be to exceed the speed limit to make up time when you are running late, or simply just to get home a little quicker after a long day.
The consequences of doing so, however, can be deadly.
Speed affects the safety of everyone on our roadways in several ways.
First, speeding — which means exceeding the posted speed limit — can cause serious accidents without notice.
Next, when following the speed limit, but still driving too fast for the conditions — including in construction zones, when it rains, or during the occasional Texas snow — crashes can occur by quickly losing control of the vehicle.
Speeding was a factor in 26% of all traffic crashes last year throughout the country, causing 9,478 fatalities, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
The reality is, speed limits are put in place for a reason. And when they are broken, or exceeded in dangerous conditions, traffic accidents, injuries, and fatalities can occur without notice.
Here is how speeding affects everyone on our Texas roadways.
Pedestrians are at Increased Risk for Injuries or Death When Drivers are Speeding
Speeding through residential neighborhoods, school zones, and intersections can lead to catastrophic pedestrian accidents that leave the person on foot fighting to get their lives back on track.
When traveling at higher speeds, the force of impact from your vehicle increases.
If you were to hit a pedestrian, the collision could result in severe head trauma, broken bones, and internal injuries.
Speeding Requires a Greater Stopping Distance
Speeding — even at five to ten miles per hour over the speed limit — requires a greater distance to stop, which means if there is a sudden emergency, or stopped traffic ahead, you may not be able to control the braking function of the vehicle in time to avoid an accident.
When there is no time to brake, drivers often react hastily, and may swerve into oncoming traffic, hit a nearby barrier, slam into the person in front of them, or cause a rollover accident.
Unfortunately, the greater the impact of the crash, the higher the injury rate.
High-speed collisions often cause severe whiplash, neck and spinal injuries, concussions, and broken bones.
If you have been hurt or lost a loved one in a vehicle collision caused by a speeding driver contact our experienced Harris County personal injury attorneys at the Nava Law Group today by calling (713) 218-2400 to discuss the details of your injuries or loss to learn how we can help investigate your case during a free consultation.
