Did you know that speeding was a factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities in 2018? These speeding related accidents kill about 9,000 people a year. While your busy schedule or fast paced lifestyle may cause you to speed, you can reduce the risk of injury or death by obeying posted speed limits.
When you excessively speed, you not only put yourself in danger, but put others on the road at risk of serious injury as well. This is why we’ve put together a quick list of some of the ways speed affects the results of a car crash. As a personal Nashville accident attorney, we’ve seen it all, and can help you get back on your feet.
Here are 4 ways speed affects the results of a car crash:
- Pedestrian Accidents
- Impact of Speeding
- Loss of Control
- Vehicle Functioning
Pedestrian Accidents
When you’re behind the wheel, you likely think about your own safety. But what about ensuring the safety of those around you? As you traverse residential areas such as neighborhoods, or school zones, speeding can cause even more harm to those not in another vehicle.
In areas where pedestrians are present, it’s important to be exceedingly cautious about your speeding. With higher car 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 that you would be liable for. In school zones, if you were to hit a child pedestrian, the crash would likely end in a fatality.
Impact of Speeding
Have you ever been driving down the highway with a speed limit of 60 mph, but you had been traveling at say 75 mph? While you may feel safe and secure going at this speed, you may not have the distance required to stop in time to avoid traffic accidents. When you drive at a high rate of speed, it can be difficult to control the motion of your car in case of a sudden emergency.
For example, if you’re traveling 15-20 miles above the speed limit and the car in front of you stops abruptly or swerves, you may not have enough time to break and in turn crash head-on. With unexpected car lane changes and traffic interference, the faster you’re traveling, the greater the crash impact, and the higher the risk of injury or death.
If you or a loved one is in need of a Nashville accident attorney, contact Bart Durham Injury Law today.
Loss of Control
Again, increased speeds increase your stopping time and distance. If you are speeding, you will need much more time and distance to safely stop your vehicle. With that being said, if you encounter debris or a stopped vehicle in front of you on the roadway, your speeding car may not have enough time or space to brake. The end result? An accident.
Higher driving speeds reduce the control you have over your vehicle. A speeding driver may be more likely to accidentally swerve into oncoming traffic or nearby barriers from the lack of control. Losing control of your vehicle can also cause a rollover accident, in which case you may need to seek a Nashville accident and personal injury attorney.
If you’re involved in a high-speed collision, you may obtain various severe injuries. High-speed collisions often cause severe whiplash, concussions, broken bones, as well as serious neck and spinal injuries. In extreme instances, you could even be ejected from your vehicle.
Remember to abide by the speed limits on your roadways in order to protect your life, and the lives around you.
Vehicle Functioning
Along with losing control of your vehicle at high speeds, the functioning of your car can be impacted as well. Many generic motor vehicles are not intended to handle extreme speeds. As many people use their cars for basic modes of transportation, it is possible that your safety features may not work as intended at higher speeds.
While safety seat belts and airbags protect drivers and passengers from certain severe injuries, they may not fully reduce the force of the impact. If you are traveling too fast and not abiding by the speed limit, you may lose all control over your vehicle and your safety features may not always work.
While speeding can be tempting, high speeds do, in fact, affect the results of a car crash, and not in a positive manner. As speeding accidents kill at least 25 people daily, minding your speed limits can save a life.
