Concord Speeding Accident Lawyer

Speed limits exist for a reason. Needing drivers to drive slower in certain areas helps reduce the amount of time needed to react to changes in traffic and/or stop. Unfortunately, many motorists still drive with no regard for the posted speed limits and the consequences of their actions.

Speeding is one of the most common and one of the most dangerous behaviors behind the wheel. It not only increases the likelihood of auto crashes, but also increases the risk of fatalities in these crashes. If you or a loved one has been involved in a crash with a speeding driver, you know the dangers of this illegal action.

Victims of speeding accidents can pursue compensation from the driver responsible for the accident. However, this entails proving that the other driver was at fault during the accident for speeding and that you deserve the total amount of compensation you’re seeking. While this might seem straightforward, insurance companies rarely provide fair compensation unless you have legal representation.

Our car accident attorneys have extensive experience dealing with speeding-related accidents. We are ready to help you recover the maximum compensation available for your claim. Call us today at [phone] to schedule a free case evaluation.

How Does Speeding Raise the Likelihood of an Accident?

Speeding is often considered the third leading contributor to vehicle crashes, right behind impaired driving and distracted driving. While it might seem like a harmless infraction, speed limits are imposed to keep all road users safe. Here’s how speeding increases the chance of an accident.

Speeding raises the risk of accidents and amplifies the severity of injuries that the victims may sustain in a crash. This is because when a driver exceeds the speed limit, they typically have less time to react to potential hazards, such as pedestrians crossing the road, sudden changes in the flow of traffic, or vehicles merging. This reduced reaction time significantly increases the chances of collisions happening.

Higher speeds make it more challenging to navigate curves, negotiate turns, and react to emergencies effectively. Furthermore, speeding impairs the driver’s ability to maintain control of the vehicle. Since the vehicle’s stability is compromised, there’s a higher likelihood of sliding, skidding, and losing control. Higher speeds also mean that the driver is more likely to accidentally swerve into nearby barriers or oncoming traffic. Losing control of the car can cause a rollover accident.

Speeding increases the stopping distance and time. The faster the car drives, the greater the distance and time it will take to stop. If a driver is speeding and suddenly spots a hazard on the roadway in front of them, they might not have enough space or time to brake and may end up causing an accident. In such a case, the higher momentum from greater speeds makes it difficult to stop in time, which increases the likelihood of rear-end collisions or collisions with stationary objects on the road.

Safety features might not work as intended at higher speeds. Airbags and safety belts protect passengers and drivers from severe injuries by lowering the force of impact. If you’re traveling at high speeds and get into an accident, the safety features might not function as intended, which could mean more serious injuries to the victims involved.

Keep in mind that the risks of speeding aren’t limited to the driver alone. Other motorists and road users, including cyclists, pedestrians, and occupants of other vehicles are at a greater risk of harm when drivers exceed speed limits. It amplifies the potential for devastating injuries and loss, which emphasizes the need for cautious and responsible driving habits.

How Can I Prove the Other Driver Was Speeding When They Hit Me?

Unfortunately, most speeding drivers will claim that they were driving at relatively safe speeds in an attempt to avoid responsibility for the accidents they caused. For this reason, it’s important to pursue certain key pieces of evidence to demonstrate that speeding was the cause of the accident. The data can be obtained from various sources as outlined below.

Eyewitness accounts

If there were other people present when the accident occurred, they can help confirm your claims. The average person might be unable to gauge if a driver was indeed above the speed limit during the time of the crash. However, if the driver was going through an intersection and another vehicle blew right through it going 20 MPH over, most witnesses will be able to tell that kind of speeding when they see it.

Moreover, witness testimony is not limited to those at the scene of the accident. Your lawyer can seek the services of expert witnesses, who are authorities in a specific field that can look at the details of the crash and give professional opinions. In many cases, expert witnesses are forensic experts, long-time law enforcement officials, and accident reconstruction experts.

Dashboard and street camera

Some vehicles have dashboard cameras (dash cams) installed, which essentially record the accident and highlight the speed of the vehicle during the time of the crash. It’s more likely that the driver has a dash cam if the vehicle is used for commercial purposes.

You might need to request that the dash cam footage from the at-fault driver’s car be used as evidence. Such footage may also be available on other vehicles that were nearby during the crash. Street cameras near the site of the crash could also have compelling evidence that the driver was going fast.

Onboard electronic devices

Most modern vehicles feature electronic devices that record critical details of the vehicle at all times while it’s in operation. The data could help prove the other driver was speeding at the time of the crash. Your lawyer may request the defendant and their insurance company or attorney to preserve the data recorded by the vehicle’s electronic data recorder (EDR), which is also called the “black box”.

Speed data from before and at the time of the collision will be included in the data recorded by the EDR. As such, a driver who’s aware of this might not be eager to hand in this evidence voluntarily. This is why your lawyer might have to officially request the EDR data be made available as evidence.

GPS tracker

Using GPS data to prove speeding may be a little more difficult since GPS devices usually don’t provide information about the speed of vehicles. However, it’s still possible with a bit of effort. For instance, GPS data could be used to show that the driver couldn’t have traveled a certain distance in the given amount of time without speeding. This could be used as evidence.

CCTV footage

In some cases, camera footage from the surrounding buildings or homes may be obtainable. If the accident occurred near an intersection, it’s likely a traffic camera recorded the incident. If it was near a school, business, or public building, a CCTV camera of some sort may have recorded the incident.

Finding sufficient evidence to prove that the driver was speeding is not an easy feat. However, it’s something our team has a great deal of experience doing. We are committed to working hard to ensure that we have everything we need to build the strongest case possible on your behalf. We are attentive to every detail of the case so that we give you the best chance of recovering the maximum amount of compensation you are eligible for.

How Long Do Victims Have to File Speeding Accident Claims in North Carolina?

The state of North Carolina gives accident victims three years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit. This is covered under the state’s statute of limitations. If you don’t act within this timeframe, you risk losing your right to hold the driver at fault liable for the damages you incurred.

How Much Will a Speeding Accident Lawyer Cost?

There’s no standard fee that a lawyer charges for car accident claims. However, when it comes to car accident cases and other personal injury cases, lawyers typically follow what is referred to as a “contingency fee” arrangement.

A contingency fee arrangement means that the lawyer will only get paid their legal fees when they recover money on your behalf. In this case, they will get paid a percentage of the settlement amount or the amount awarded by the court. The percentage the law firm receives in this arrangement varies, but it usually ranges from 25% to 40% depending on the case. The standard percentage is 33%.

Contact a Concord Car Accident Lawyer for your Speeding Accident Case

If you or a loved one suffered injuries in a speeding accident that wasn’t your fault, it’s important to get a car accident lawyer as soon as possible.

Our team has helped clients recover damages in hundreds of personal injury settlements and jury trials. Our results speak for themselves, and we can help you seek justice and fair compensation for the losses you and your family have incurred due to the negligence of a speeding driver.

Get in touch with us by calling [phone] today to schedule a free consultation. We serve clients throughout Concord, NC, and the surrounding areas.