Speeding Often Leads to Serious Car Crashes

Every year, thousands of fatal car accidents are caused by drivers who are speeding. According to a report released by the National Center for Statistics and Analysis (NCSA), almost one third of fatalities are speed-related, which means that at least one of the drivers involved in the accident was driving faster than the posted speed limit or was driving too fast for prevailing conditions. Even though the study was conducted a few years ago, it still contains valuable insight into the impact of speeding on serious car crashes.

Car accidents often involve more than one contributing factor, such as driver behavior, vehicle design and environmental conditions. When it comes to driver-related factors, impaired driving, aggressive driving, speeding and driving while distracted are all leading causes of serious car crashes. Based on NCSA’s research, when a driver was impaired, the risk of causing a car accident by speeding increased dramatically. Approximately 41 percent of drivers who were intoxicated (BAC =0.08+) were also speeding as compared to 14 percent of drivers who were not impaired.

Some of the key findings of the NCSA study into speed-related crashes include the following:

• The geometry of the road is a contributing factor in speeding-related crashes. Almost half of the crashes studied occurred when the driving was negotiating a curve while speeding.

• The majority of fatal single-car accidents caused by speeding occur on rural roads.

• Western states have a higher percentage of overall fatalities resulting from speeding as compared to eastern states.

• After Congress abolished the National Maximum Speed Limit (NMSL) in 1995, the rate of speeding-related fatalities on roads with speed limits of 65 mph or higher has gone up. However, the fatality rate for accidents caused by speeding on roads with a speed limit under 50 mph has remained stable.

• More drivers speed during evening hours, which are between 3:00 PM and 3:00 AM, than daytime hours.

Speeding-related car crashes can cause severe injuries, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, back strain, broken bones and other serious conditions. If you have been injured in a car accident caused by a speeding driver, you may be entitled to compensation and should contact an experienced car accident attorney. Call the Tennessee car crash lawyers at Phillip Miller & Associates at (800) 337-HURT (4878) or (615) 356-2000 for expert legal advice. We will review your case to help you determine the amount of compensation in which you are entitled. Do not delay in consulting with an attorney after a serious car accident.

Phillip Miller & Associates
631 Woodland Street
Nashville, TN 37206
Phone: (615) 356-2000
Fax: (615) 242-1739
Toll Free: (800) 337-HURT
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