Car accidents are a frequent hazard drivers face on the road, and speeding accidents pose specific, significant dangers due to the increased force of impact, which reduces reaction time and vehicle control. High-speed collisions can result in severe injuries and, potentially, fatalities, leaving families devastated. Survivors of speeding accidents may face long-term medical treatment and financial burdens due to medical bills and loss of income. At Turbak Law Office, P.C., a Watertown speeding accident lawyer knows how deeply you and your loved ones feel the ripple effects of speeding accidents.
Certain speeding-related offenses can lead to fines and jail time, emphasizing the importance of legal assistance in dealing with such a serious driving offense. When speeding accidents happen, you need experienced legal help to deal with the aftermath. The physical and emotional trauma can be life-altering, and we hope to aid in your recovery by taking care of your legal concerns so you can focus your energy on your health. Call a car accident attorney from Turbak Law Office, P.C. for your free consultation today.
Understanding Speeding Accidents
According to the South Dakota Department of Public Safety, speeding is one of the state’s leading causes of traffic accidents. When drivers exceed the speed limit, they significantly increase the risk of causing severe and sometimes fatal accidents. Speeding reduces the driver’s ability to react quickly to sudden changes, increases the stopping distance required to come to a complete halt, and intensifies the impact during collisions.
Receiving a traffic ticket for speeding can result in fines, points on your license, and increased insurance costs, making it crucial to understand the implications and seek legal assistance.
Our firm can handle various traffic infractions efficiently, using modern communication methods such as fax and email to assist clients without requiring their physical presence in court.
Common Causes of Speeding and Reckless Driving Accidents
While any driver can cause a speeding accident, a few factors can increase the likelihood of a potential accident. Various reasons for speeding accidents can include:
- Reckless Driving – Some drivers may engage in aggressive behaviors like street racing, improper passing, or tailgating, which can potentially cause a collision.
- Distractions – Using mobile phones, adjusting music, or engaging in other distractions can unintentionally cause drivers to exceed speed limits.
- Impaired Driving – Alcohol or drugs can impair judgment and reaction times, leading to speeding and an increased risk of accidents.
- Running Late – Drivers may speed to make up for lost time or grow impatient and frustrated with traffic, increasing the risk of accidents.
- Weather Conditions – Poor weather conditions, such as rain, snow, or fog, can exacerbate the dangers of speeding. When drivers fail to modify their speed to match road conditions, they can lose control of their vehicle, making accidents more likely.
- Inexperience – Younger or less experienced drivers may be more prone to speeding and less capable of handling high-speed situations.
Many of these behaviors can result in traffic tickets, which carry significant penalties and can impact your driving record.
Common Speeding Accident Personal Injury Cases
Speeding accident injuries can have long-lasting physical and emotional effects as the higher velocity amplifies the energy transferred to occupants on impact. This increased force can cause more significant trauma to affect the body. Common injuries resulting from speeding accidents include:
- Traumatic Brain Injuries (TBIs) – Head trauma, including concussions, contusions, and other TBIs, can occur when occupants strike their heads on the steering wheel, dashboard, or windows during a collision.
- Whiplash – The sudden acceleration and deceleration forces in a speeding collision can cause whiplash, which results in neck pain, stiffness, and decreased mobility.
- Spinal Cord Injuries – High-speed impacts can cause spinal cord compression, fractures, or dislocations, leading to paralysis or lifelong disability and incurring long-term medical costs.
- Broken Bones – The force of a speeding collision can cause fractures in the arms, legs, ribs, pelvis, or other bones, requiring extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation.
- Internal Injuries – Organs could bruise, lacerate, or puncture due to the force of impact or by broken bones, potentially leading to life-threatening complications if gone undetected and untreated.
Steps to Take after a Speeding Accident
The immediate aftermath of being hit in a car accident can make seconds feel like hours and disrupt your ability to consider what to do. There are several critical steps to take after a car accident, including:
- Seek Medical Care – Receive immediate medical attention to uncover potential injuries, even if you appear unharmed and think you’re okay. Your health is crucial and getting medically evaluated after an accident can prevent possible injuries from worsening.
- Call the Police – Report the accident to law enforcement to create a record of the accident and ensure a report is filed. You can purchase a copy of the crash report online, which is critical when filing a claim.
- Document the Scene – If possible, take photos and videos, from multiple angles, of the accident scene, injuries, damage, and any skid marks or traffic signs.
- Collect and Exchange Information – Exchange contact information with other involved drivers, including names, addresses, phone numbers, vehicle information, and insurance information.
- Avoid Liability Statements – When talking to law enforcement or an insurer, stick to the facts of the accident and do not speculate about it or make statements about fault and liability.
- Contact a Watertown Speeding Accident Lawyer – Call a car accident attorney after the accident to protect your legal rights and options, start a claim, and pursue compensation for your losses.
Why You Need a Watertown Speeding Accident Lawyer
You might want to handle your claim alone, but your injury and recovery may prevent you from dedicating the time and energy to dealing with the process from start to finish. A Watertown speeding accident lawyer can handle your claim across various municipalities and court jurisdictions in the city while you concentrate on your personal injury, too. Your Watertown speeding accident lawyer can:
- Investigate the Accident – Your attorney can investigate and analyze the accident scene to assess liability and determine fault.
- Gather Evidence – Your Watertown speeding accident lawyer can collect and evaluate critical evidence, such as police reports, photos or videos of the accident, and witness statements, and include them in your claim.
- Assign Fair Value – Your attorney can consider the long-term impact of your injury and determine their overall cost to figure out what you’ll need to cover them entirely.
- File Your Claim – Your Watertown speeding accident lawyer can organize and file your claim before the deadline passes to protect your right to pursue compensation for your losses.
- Negotiate with Insurers – Your attorney can negotiate with deep-pocketed insurance companies for the compensation you need to recover. They can help prevent an insurer’s common tactics for delaying or avoiding settlements from getting in the way of pursuing what you need to cover your losses.
- Litigate in Court – If settlement negotiations fail, your Watertown speeding accident lawyer can take your claim to court and seek compensation through a favorable verdict.
Types of Available Compensation for Speeding Accidents
There are various losses you might experience due to a speeding accident, affecting your finances and physical and mental health. You can seek compensation for multiple losses in a speeding accident, including:
- Medical Expenses – Include all accident-related medical costs in your claim, such as surgical expenses, prescription medications, physical or occupational therapy, mobility aids, and hospital or ER bills.
- Lost Wages – If your injury prevents you from returning to work while you recover, you can seek compensation for your missed income in your claim.
- Loss of Potential Earning Capacity – Your injury may have long-term effects that impact your ability to continue your current occupation or career, and you can pursue money to compensate for what you would have earned over your job.
- Pain and Suffering – You can seek compensation for dealing with ongoing pain and discomfort from your injury in your claim.
- Loss of Enjoyment of Life – If your injury prevents you from being able to enjoy hobbies or recreational activities you previously could, you can pursue compensation for this loss.
Frequently Asked Questions about Speeding Accidents
What is the Statute of Limitations for Speeding Accidents in South Dakota?
South Dakota’s statute of limitations for speeding accidents is three years from the accident date. File your claim as soon as possible to avoid missing the deadline and ensure you can seek compensation for your losses. Filing your claim after the statute of limitations passes can result in dismissed claims, and you’ll potentially lose your opportunity to recover compensation.
How Can I Prove that the Other Driver Was Speeding?
Evidence such as witness statements, skid marks, traffic camera footage, black box data from the other driver’s vehicle, and the police report can help establish that the other driver was speeding. An experienced speeding accident lawyer in Watertown can assist in gathering and presenting this evidence to the courts to support your claim.
Do I Need a Lawyer for a Speeding Accident Claim?
You’re not required to hire or have a Watertown speeding accident lawyer for a speeding accident claim, but hiring and having experienced legal representation can be beneficial when dealing with the claims process. A Watertown speeding accident lawyer can alleviate your mental burden by handling your claim from start to finish and using their experience pursuing compensation for clients to seek the maximum possible compensation for your claim.
Should I Talk to the Other Driver’s Insurance Company After a Speeding Accident?
Consult or hire a Watertown speeding accident lawyer before contacting the other driver’s insurance company. Insurance adjusters may try to minimize your claim or shift blame onto you to avoid settling your claim. A Watertown speeding accident lawyer can handle communications with the insurance company to protect your rights and ability to seek financial compensation.
Contact a Watertown Speeding Accident Lawyer
You don’t have to deal with a speeding accident injury alone. The team of experienced Watertown speeding accident lawyers and car accident attorneys at Turbak Law Office, P.C. can help by handling your claim against liable parties. We can negotiate for the compensation you need while you’re recovering. Please get in touch with our law firm online or contact us today for your free consultation. Our skills and experience as Watertown speeding accident attorneys can help you while you take time to recover from your injuries.