Car accidents on Pennsylvania roads kill over 1,000 people each year, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS). Research with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) indicates that dangerous driving speeds cause 26 percent of fatal traffic collisions across the country.
Speeding contributes to a large percentage of deadly traffic accidents and thousands of more injuries. All fatal collisions are devastating for the victims’ families and loved ones. When accidents occur due to someone’s careless decision to drive at an unsafe speed, it only intensifies the already devastating losses.
Below, we consider how speeding contributes to fatal traffic collisions and the legal options available to the surviving family members of victims who lose their lives in a speed-related accident. To learn more about the legal opportunities available after losing a loved one in a fatal traffic accident, contact the compassionate and seasoned Montgomery County car accident lawyers at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C.
How Does Speeding Contribute to Fatal Traffic Accidents in Montgomery County, PA?
Driving significantly faster than the posted speed limit or what is safe for current road conditions raises the risk of a fatal traffic accident for the following reasons:
Speeding Increases the Likelihood of an Accident
While traveling faster, a driver has less time to react to changing traffic conditions or road hazards. Additionally, the quicker a car travels, the more distance it requires to come to a full stop safely—these two effects of speeding alone compound the risk of a fatal traffic collision.
Even when a high-speed driver avoids a crash with another vehicle ahead, their speed raises the likelihood of losing control and wrecking their vehicle. Additionally, maintaining control of a vehicle while on icy or curved roads is also more challenging for speeding drivers.
Speeding Adds to the Force of Impact During a Crash
The speed of a crashing vehicle directly correlates to the energy of the force released in the accident. The greater the force of impact during a crash, the more harm inflicted on the vehicle’s occupants’ bodies. A high-speed crash can render a vehicle’s crash safety features invalid in preventing injuries or death.
What Are the Potential Penalties for Speeding in Pennsylvania?
A driver who causes an innocent person harm or loss of life due to their reckless choice of speeding is held liable to the full extent of the law in Pennsylvania. They may be subject to both criminal and civil penalties that are outlined below:
Criminal Consequences
The State of Pennsylvania enforces speeding laws. Any speeding driver stopped by law enforcement may face penalties for the moving violation, such as fines or a license suspension. A driver may also be subject to criminal consequences if their excessive speeding caused injuries or death. For example, the prosecution may consider speeding as an aggravating factor to a fatal traffic accident resulting in a criminal charge for vehicular manslaughter.
Civil Consequences
A speeding driver who causes a fatal traffic accident may be subject to significant financial consequences for the accident victims’ damages. All Pennsylvania drivers owe a duty of care to drive safely and follow traffic laws so that other motorists are not placed in unreasonable danger. Negligent drivers who breach this duty of care and cause another person to suffer physical or emotional damage may owe financial compensation to victims as reimbursement for their losses.
How a Personal Injury Attorney Can Help After a Fatal Traffic Accident Involving Speeding
The sudden, catastrophic loss of a loved one causes profound emotional distress for family members and loved ones. Along with grief and emotional pain, an unexpected death may inflict substantial monetary losses on a family when, for example, the deceased victim provided the family’s primary source of income.
At Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C., our personal injury attorneys help our clients affected by a wrongful death in numerous ways, including:
- Examine the fatal traffic accident to establish the cause
- Assess the damage caused by a deadly speeding-related crash
- Devise a thoughtful and effective strategy to win your case
- Negotiate with car insurance companies and defense attorneys
- File a wrongful death lawsuit and fight for just compensation
Retain an Experienced Personal Injury Attorney in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
The untimely loss of a loved one in a speeding-related crash causes immense pain that families should never have to endure. If another party’s negligent acts caused the loss of your loved one, please contact the personal injury lawyers at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C.
For over 65 years, we have provided nationally distinguished legal services to clients in Montgomery County and throughout Southeastern Pennsylvania. To speak with an experienced and compassionate personal injury lawyer over a free consultation, complete a contact form or call today at (215) 798-7081.
