The Role of Speed in Car Accident Damages

 Posted on February 28, 2018 in Personal Injury

Speeding is dangerous and one of the most common causes of car accidents. The speed at impact is what determines the severity of car accidents and the injuries and property damages that come with them. Let’s dive deeper into the role of speed in car accident damages.

How Speed Affects Car Accidents

The purpose of speed limits is to ensure that the roads are safe for both drivers and pedestrians. If you would like to do your part in keeping the roads safe, the easiest way to do so is by following the speed limits while you are behind the wheel.

It is important to note that driving slower than the posted speed limit can be dangerous as well. Therefore, you should always drive at the speed limit and refrain from going slower unless there are inclement weather conditions or heavy traffic.

Small Speed Increases Are Dangerous Too

You may believe that driving five or ten miles over the posted speed limit is not a big deal. Unfortunately, this is not the case as even small speed increases can lead to serious car accidents. The University of California at Berkeley conducted a study that found that with each one percent increase in speed, the risk of a driver getting into an accident increases by two percent while the risk of a serious injury increases by three percent.

Speeding Can Affect Braking Distance

Braking distance measures how far your car travels during the time it takes to come to a complete stop once you hit the brakes. The faster you drive, the more you reduce your chances of being able to stop in time to avoid hitting another vehicle. If you cannot stop in time, your chances of causing a serious accident and injury become high.

Speeding Paired with Other Dangers

Unfortunately, speeding is often paired with other dangers such as distracted driving or reckless driving. While it is always dangerous to play with your radio controls when you are driving, it is particularly dangerous when you are speeding.

If you take your eyes away from the road even for one second, your car can travel far within that second and may cause an accident. For this reason, be sure to obey the speed limit at all times, avoid distractions, and adjust your speed to the weather and traffic.

Contact Our Hinsdale Car Accident Lawyers

Even if you make an effort to avoid speeding, other drivers may continue to speed. If you sustain an injury because of an accident that was the result of another driver’s speeding, it is in your best interest to contact our DuPage County car accident lawyers at 630-920-8855. We’ll determine whether speeding did play a role and may be able to recover compensation on your behalf.

Source:

https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding