Speeding is dangerous and results in higher risk of accidents, injury, and death to motorists and passengers on Moreno Valley’s roads. Whether it’s due to failing to notice a change in speed limit, drag racing, or knowingly driving too quickly, speeding is the second most common cause of serious and fatal accidents in California. The NHTSA reported 9,378 speeding fatalities in 2018, and that speed contributed to 26% of the nation’s fatal traffic accidents. Speed limits are in place to protect people on the roads, but unfortunately people commonly and consciously disregard these laws. This negligent behavior puts everyone at risk, so a speed-related crash may allow victims to recover from the irresponsible driver. If you were hurt in a car accident involving excessive speed, consult with an experienced Moreno Valley Speeding Collision Lawyer to see if you may be entitled to compensation.
How Speeding Contributes to Collisions
No matter the reason for speeding, the behavior impairs a driver’s ability to operate a vehicle safely and contributes to a large percentage of car accidents each year. Drivers who increase the speed of their vehicles:
- Have slower reaction times,
- Are more likely to lose control of their vehicle,
- Need more time to stop their vehicle, and
- Have less time to spot hazards on the road and begin evasive or defensive tactics.
When these risks are realized and a collision does occur, speeding increases the crash severity because the speed results in a greater collision force and in turn an increased force of impact on all motorists and passengers involved. Even a 5 mile an hour increase in the speed limit and driver speeds correlates to an 8 percent fatality increase in collisions.
Moreno Valley Speeding Collision Risks
Moreno Valley is a rapidly expanding city that’s become a commuter hub for its 209,000 residents and residents in surrounding communities thanks to companies like Amazon, Proctor & Gamble, and Aldi Foods making the city their corporate home. To get to these companies, commuters must travel busy freeways in the area including the 215, the 10, and the 60. All these freeways are heavily trafficked and have higher speed limits than city streets, so the 1.1 million person workforce traveling through and to Moreno Valley daily is at risk of drivers either failing to notice speed limits due to distracted driving or simply disregarding the safety of others. This can have tragic consequences. In 2020 a motorcyclist was killed in a crash while traveling at 85 mph on the 60 freeway, and California’s Office of Traffic Safety reported 164 speed-related fatality and injury crashes in 2017 alone.
How do I Recover Damages for my Injuries?
After a speeding collision, it’s common for the auto insurance companies for you and any other drivers involved to investigate the accident and either deny your claim for damages or negotiate with you to settle your claim for as little as possible. If you decide to retain an attorney, they will likely conduct their own investigation into who’s at fault and should then negotiate with the insurers on your behalf to reach a fair settlement.
However, if the insurance companies won’t offer a fair settlement, the next move may be filing a lawsuit in civil court to recover damages for injuries caused by another party’s negligence. To establish a defendant acted negligently, you must show:
- The defendant owed you a legal duty of care,
- They breached that duty through either an act or a failure to act when needed, and
- The breach caused you harm.
You may also avoid proving the elements of negligence if you can show the defendant caused your harm while violating a law such as the speed limit. Under the doctrine of negligence per se, a presumption of negligent behavior is created if the defendant caused injury while violating a law, rule, or regulation designed to promote safety. It may be possible to use evidence from the scene such as skid marks, traffic camera footage, or eyewitness testimony to help establish whether or not the defendant was speeding or breaking another law at the time of the crash.
How Much Is My Speeding Collision Case Worth?
Once you have proved to a court that the defendant is liable for your injuries because they behaved negligently, the court may award you damages to compensate you for a number of physical, emotional, mental, and financial injuries. Compensatory damages have been awarded for harms including:
- Medical expenses,
- Property damage,
- Lost wages,
- Funeral expenses,
- Pain and suffering,
- Loss of enjoyment of life,
- Disfigurement or permanent disability, and
- Loss of consortium.
Sometimes the defendant behaved so badly that circumstances may warrant an additional award of damages to the victim simply to punish the reprehensible conduct rather than to compensate for injuries. These punitive damages not often given because the burden of proof victims must meet is very high and they court has complete discretion over whether they are awarded and in what amount.
Speak to an Attorney Today
If you or a loved one were involved in a car accident where excessive speed was involved, you know firsthand how drastically your health, well-being, and financial security can change in the blink of an eye due to injuries from these collisions. To protect your rights and take the first step to get the compensation you deserve, speak with the experienced Moreno Valley speeding collision attorneys at Walton Law, APC today. Our attorneys spent years providing comprehensive, dedicated representation to victims just like you and delivering results; we’ve recovered millions of dollars in damages on their behalf for their injuries. Contact us today to schedule your no risk, no obligation initial case consultation. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at (866)-338-7079 or through our online Contact Page. Your initial case evaluation is free and completely confidential, and you pay nothing until we win your case. Let our skilled team of attorneys review your situation, answer your questions, and use our knowledge and resources to fight for the compensation you deserve.