Going a few miles over the speed limit may seem harmless, but posted speed limits are set to keep drivers, pedestrians, and others on Newport Beach roads safe. California’s Basic Speed Law says that drivers may never drive faster than is safe for the road conditions. Drivers who ignore speed limits or drive too fast for road conditions frequently cause crashes that lead to significant injuries. The cost of hospital treatment for serious injuries can leave you overwhelmed with medical debt.
Talk to a Newport Beach car accident lawyer right away if you have been injured in an accident caused by a speeding driver. The attorneys at Sam & Ash Injury Law have helped clients recover more than $400 million in compensation in personal injury settlements and jury verdicts. We believe that attorneys who really care about their clients get better results.
Contact us today for a free initial consultation to learn more about how a Newport Beach car accident attorney can assist you. We want to do What’s Right for you.
Is Speeding Dangerous in Newport Beach?
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), excessive speed affects traffic safety in Newport Beach in multiple ways:
- Speeding drivers are more likely to lose control — The faster you are going in a car, the harder it is to control. Speeding drivers are more likely to run traffic lights and take curves at unsafe speeds. A speeding driver may skid out of control if they slam on the brakes to avoid a hazard.
- Speeding makes safety features less effective — Cars moving at high speeds collide with more force. High-speed collisions make the safety equipment in cars less effective and cause more serious injuries.
- Speeding makes stopping more difficult — For a driver to avoid a collision with a vehicle or object in front of them, the driver must have time to apply the brakes. Speeding makes stopping in time more difficult. Speeding drivers will approach hazards in front of them more quickly, giving them less time to slow down. It also takes more distance to stop vehicles that are moving at higher speeds. A speeding driver might see a vehicle in front of them and slam on the brakes but be unable to avoid a crash.
Speeding Statistics in Newport Beach
Speeding accidents kill or injure thousands of people every year across the country. The NHTSA reports nearly 9,500 people died in speeding-related crashes nationwide in a recent year.
The California Office of Traffic Safety’s 2021 safety plan says more than 1,000 people died in speeding related-accidents statewide in a recent year, while another 88,000 suffered injuries.
Causes of Speeding in Newport Beach
Some of the reasons drivers say they speed include:
- Being late — Whether they’re late for work, school, or an appointment, drivers who are behind schedule and feel rushed frequently exceed the speed limit to try to make up time.
- Inattention — Drivers who are talking to passengers, listening to music, or distracted by something else in the vehicle may be speeding without realizing it because they are not paying attention.
- Heavy traffic — Drivers caught in heavy traffic sometimes become frustrated and drive faster once traffic starts moving. These drivers frequently change lanes to get where they’re going more quickly, which can increase the likelihood of a crash.
- Road rage — Some drivers are prone to anger. One way they vent their rage is by ignoring speed limits. Anger and speeding combined can create an even more dangerous situation, and those types of drivers should be avoided if possible.
Accidents Caused by Speeding
Some of the most common types of car accidents caused by speeding are:
- Rear-end accidents — If a driver ahead brakes or traffic slows down unexpectedly, a speeding driver may be unable to stop in time, causing a rear-end collision.
- Head-on accidents — A drunk driver or drowsy driver who is speeding may lose control of their vehicle and cross into an oncoming lane of traffic. This can lead to a catastrophic head-on collision.
- Sideswipe accidents — Drivers speeding and weaving through traffic can easily miss a vehicle in their blind spot. If this happens, the speeding driver may cause a sideswipe collision.
- T-Bone accidents — Speeding drivers often run red lights and stop signs. When a speeding driver fails to yield the right of way, the speeding driver may hit another vehicle crossing an intersection, causing a T-bone or broadside accident.
Safety Tips To Avoid Crashes Caused by Speeding
Here are a few safety tips to avoid being involved in a speed-related accident:
- Follow posted speed limits.
- Avoid running late by giving yourself plenty of time to get to where you need to be.
- Resist the urge to speed up in heavy traffic.
- Keep calm when driving so you don’t succumb to road rage.
- Increase the distance between your vehicle and vehicles in front of you in bad weather to allow enough space to avoid a rear-end collision if the car in front stops suddenly.
- If you encounter a speeding driver, don’t panic. Let them pass you and safely drop back behind them. Don’t try to pass them. Otherwise, it may cause them to speed up more.
How a Newport Beach Lawyer Can Help You After a Speeding Accident
If you’ve just been hurt in an accident with a speeding driver in Newport Beach, you may be experiencing serious pain, mounting medical bills, and lost income due to an extended absence from work. The effects could put you in severe financial and emotional distress.
After an accident caused by a speeding driver in Newport Beach, talk to a knowledgeable personal injury lawyer about your legal options. The Newport Beach car accident attorneys at Sam & Ash Injury Law can help you file an insurance claim or personal injury lawsuit against a speeding driver to pursue financial compensation for your medical bills, missed wages, pain and suffering, emotional distress, and more.
We’re ready to get to work on your case today. Contact our Newport Beach office for a free initial consultation.
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