We’ve all been in traffic and seen cars whiz by at high speeds. Have you ever seen a collision happen when someone is speeding? These accidents can cause catastrophic injuries, some of them fatal. They may also destroy vehicles and other property.
While speeding is against the law, people do it every day. Speeding is a form of negligence, which is the basis for most personal injury claims. If you sustained injuries in an accident caused by speeding, call Johnson Attorneys Group. We will fight for your right to compensation.
Why Is Speeding Dangerous?
When people started driving cars in America, they shared roadways with horse-drawn carriages. Traffic was chaotic, as you can well imagine. Connecticut enacted the first speed limit of 12 mph for cities and 15 mph in rural areas for automobiles in 1901 to reduce the number of collisions and make the roads safer.
Although you’re unlikely to see many horses on the roads in California today, speed limits still intend to keep people safe. Today’s cars can go much faster and potentially cause catastrophic damage.
A roadway’s location, condition and average daily traffic help determine speed limits. Maximum allowed speeds are typically lower in neighborhoods, business districts, school zones and on roads with dangerous features such as tight curves.
The faster a car travels, the longer it takes to stop. When drivers speed, they’re delaying their reaction time. Say that most drivers on the road observe a 70-mph speed limit, and another is doing 90. Traffic rounds a curve, slows and comes to an abrupt standstill. The driver who is speeding likely won’t be able to slow down at the same rate as other cars and will cause an accident.
What Is Negligence?
In legal terms, negligence is not acting with the same level of care that a reasonable person would in the same situation. Negligence can take the form of an action or failure to act.
People generally have a duty of care to behave in ways that won’t harm themselves or others. When you get behind the wheel of a car, for example, your duty of care is to drive safely to avoid causing a collision.
Driver Error
Drivers must pass written and road tests before they can obtain a driver’s license. You must show that you know and understand traffic laws and how to drive safely. Unfortunately, drivers don’t always follow the rules and safe driving practices.
Driver error can manifest in several ways, such as:
- Speeding
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Improper merging and failing to yield the right of way
- Driving while fatigued, drunk or under the influence of mind-altering drugs
- Tailgating
- Failing to follow other traffic laws, signs and signals
- Distracted driving
Whether these dangerous behaviors stem from inexperience, carelessness or a sense of invincibility, driver error causes accidents that can injure and kill people. Injured accident victims deserve compensation, and Johnson Attorneys Group can help them get it.
Vehicle Issues
While you may think that negligence only applies to things people do when they’re behind the wheel, negligence can also take other forms. If your vehicle has problems that make it unsafe to drive, you shouldn’t use the car until those issues are resolved.
Examples include:
- A cracked windshield that limits visibility
- Broken headlights or tail lights
- Faulty brakes
All these issues can easily cause an accident, and driving your car anyway when they’re present is negligent behavior.
How Do You Prove Negligence?
To prove negligence, these statements must all be true:
- Someone owed you a duty of care.
- They failed to provide that duty of care.
- That failure caused an accident.
- You sustained injuries or incurred other damages in the accident.
If someone is negligent and causes you harm, they are responsible for compensating you for your damages. Proving negligence is usually a complex task. Johnson Attorneys Group knows what to look for and how to make guilty parties pay.
What If You’re Partially At-fault for Causing Your Accident?
Every state has laws that allow for multiple-party responsibility. California uses pure comparative negligence. Under this structure, you can seek damages from other guilty parties even if you’re 99% responsible. While this sounds great, there’s a catch.
An investigation will determine each party’s percentage of fault in a car accident. Suppose you’re 30% at fault. In that case, the amount of compensation you can receive is reduced by 30%. That also means you’re responsible for paying 30% of the damages.
Making sure that the fault assigned to our clients is fair and accurate is one of the most vital jobs Johnson Attorneys Group has. That way, you can obtain all the compensation you deserve.
How Can a Speeding Accident Lawyer Help?
If you’re injured in a speeding accident, you don’t need to worry about your claim for compensation and all the related tasks. Johnson Attorneys Group will take care of things for you so you can focus on recovering. We will:
- Assess your case for free with no obligation for you to hire us
- File your claim and other paperwork
- Deal with insurance companies on your behalf
- Investigate your accident
- Negotiate a favorable settlement or take your case to trial
Insurance companies don't like paying for damages. They often offer low initial settlement amounts, hoping you don't realize you can negotiate. They may also use other underhanded tactics to minimize how much they'll have to pay.
When you hire Johnson Attorneys Group, we won't let greedy insurance companies take advantage of you. We know what your case is worth, and we'll fight to obtain every penny you're due.
We are a large firm and have extensive resources we’ll use to gather evidence and build your case. However, we give all our clients the personal attention they deserve.
What Compensation Is Available in a Speeding Accident?
The injuries you receive in a speeding accident will cost you money. They can also cause long-lasting adverse effects that can change your life. You deserve compensation for these damages.
Economic damages reimburse you for accident-related expenses, including:
- Medical treatments, hospitalization, medications and rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Replacement services
- Property damage
Keep your bills and receipts to ensure that you’re fully reimbursed. If your injuries are severe and require long-term treatments, you may qualify to receive compensation for future medical care and lost income.
Non-economic damages address the ways your accident and injuries affect your life. They compensate for things like:
- Pain and suffering
- Inconvenience
- Lost enjoyment of life
- Permanent disfigurement or disability
Few cases are eligible for punitive damages. They are awarded if the guilty party was willfully malicious, intentionally injured you or exhibited other extreme behaviors. Ask your speeding accident attorney from Johnson Attorneys Group if your case qualifies.
Why Should You Choose Johnson Attorneys Group?
If you need a speeding accident lawyer, you want one with a good track record handling cases similar to yours. Johnson Attorneys Group has a 98.7% case success rate, winning over $100 million in settlements for our clients. With 12 locations throughout California, one is convenient for you.
Johnson Attorneys Group works on a contingency fee basis; you won’t pay us until we win compensation for you. Request your free case evaluation today. Call us 24/7 at (800) 208-3538, use live chat or request your case review online.
