Speeding Is a Factor in 26 Percent of Fatal Accidents

Driving in Connecticut or throughout the United States is not always as safe as you might hope, especially when too many drivers speed. In a recent year, nearly 10,000 people died in accidents involving speeding in the U.S. This was approximately one-fourth (26 percent) of all fatal traffic crashes, which shows that speeding is a major cause of road fatalities

When you suffer injuries or lose a loved one due to a car accident, you may have the right to seek damages for your losses. Read on to learn more about how speeding contributes to accidents and fatalities and how a car accident attorney can help you recover fully for the losses you incurred.

Speeding Drivers Should Pay for Your Injuries and Losses

Speeding is against the law in all 50 states, and Connecticut has several laws regarding driving too fast. When someone speeds or violates another traffic law causes a crash, they should pay for all of the injuries that result. If the driver received a speeding citation following the crash, this can prove their violation and liability.

Speeding does not only involve exceeding the posted speed limit, as it can also involve driving too fast for conditions.

For example:

• On a dry and clear day, the posted highway speed limit of 65 miles per hour might seem safe and appropriate.
• When there are thunderstorms or icy roads, 65 miles an hour might be way too fast, and drivers should always know to slow down for weather or road conditions.

When a driver violates either type of speeding rule, their insurance should cover the losses of any accident victims.

A Wrongful Death Lawsuit Is Available When You Lose a Loved One

When you lose a loved one in a fatal speeding accident, you might have the right to seek compensation by bringing a wrongful death lawsuit. This is an option for certain close surviving loved family members to seek justice and financial recovery for their losses. While no amount of money will ever turn back the clock and reunite you with your loved one, it can help your family move forward from the loss in a better position – both emotionally and financially.

Financial losses you might seek include the earnings of that family member from the time of the accident through their working life so that your family does not lose the financial benefit of your lost loved one as a result of the accident. In terms of emotional losses, you can recover financially for the loss of companionship of your loved one and the support they provided. An experienced car accident lawyer can advise you of what compensation might be available to your family following a tragic speeding accident.

Your Attorney Knows What Evidence to Collect in Support of Your Case

Speeding is illegal, and if someone speeding hits you or a family member and causes injury or death, they are liable for your damages. But how do you know if someone was speeding when they hit you?

These are difficult questions to answer, as accident victims often focus on the road when a speeding driver comes out of nowhere. An experienced car accident attorney will know how to investigate the cause of a crash and determine if a speeding driver should be responsible.

Evidence collection to prove liability is one of the key tasks of your car accident attorney, as you need more than your own word that a speeding driver was to blame. If you were not in the vehicle when a tragic accident occurred, your wrongful death claim will depend on other evidence that your attorney uncovers.

This might include:

• Witness statements
• Traffic cameras or dash cams
• Citations that police officers issue

Even in the case of a fatal crash, insurance companies can still be difficult and challenge liability. You need a law firm handling your claim that can gather sufficient evidence to prove speeding or other negligence.

How Can a Car Accident Attorney Help With a Speeding Accident Claim?

The experience of losing a loved one to an accident or suffering an injury yourself will immediately affect many areas of your life. You may face extreme emotional grief or may require ongoing treatment and rehabilitation for your injuries. This can make it difficult to know where to begin with the legal process.

Getting a car accident attorney on your side from the very start is valuable for many reasons. First and foremost, your car accident attorney will advise you if you have a valid claim for personal injury or wrongful death. If so, they will accurately measure the value of your damages. These calculations are often complicated, and you do not want to risk leaving any money on the table that you deserve.

The right lawyer will have a network of medical and occupational experts who can provide analysis and testimony to support your claim when necessary. They can help you present complete evidence of liability and the severity of your injuries should the insurance company challenge them.

Your attorney will also review any settlement offers you receive and advise you whether an offer is adequate or not. If you accept a settlement too soon after your accident, without professional opinions as to how the accident will impact your working life, you may fail to fully collect on your damages, and you will have to cover the costs out-of-pocket later on.

The experience of going through an accident and suffering injuries, or tragically losing a loved one to an accident, is heart-wrenching and life-altering. Having an attorney on your side as soon as possible after the accident will help to take the stress of the related negotiations about damages and compensation out of your day-to-day life.

This way, you can focus on your grief or physical recovery and rest assured that your attorney is working to get you the best possible settlement as soon as possible.