Speeding Accidents

Speed is a factor in almost every car accident. It’s almost universally true that most car accidents could have been avoided if the at-fault vehicle just drove slower. However, we live in a society that’s pressed for time. Everyone has places to go and things to do. Often the easiest way to make up lost time is to drive faster and get to the destination quicker. Ironically, drivers don’t get to their destinations faster if they cause an accident along the way.

When going through drivers education, travel on the highway is a big step. Safely driving a car at 30 miles per hour is much different than at 65 miles per hour. At that speed, minor mistakes can have serious consequences. Human bodies were not meant to be in collisions at that speed. Therefore, extra caution is needed when traveling on the highway to avoid highway car accidents.

A driver who speeds on the highway puts everyone else on the road at risk. But, that doesn’t stop some people from traveling 70, 80, or 90 miles per hour. At those speeds, reaction times are reduced, and vehicles take longer to stop. The faster a car is going, the lesser the chance that those inside will survive a collision.

Though most speed limits are posted on easily visible signs, there are general rules that all drivers must follow, even in the absence of signage. This is especially true of Thickly Settled Neighborhoods and School Zones. In Thickly Settled areas, the law says that it is not safe and proper to travel more than 30 miles per hour, unless a sign suggests that the limit is 25 miles per hour. In a school zone, it is not safe and proper to travel more than 20 miles per hour.

The reason for these low speed limits is the presence of pedestrians, cyclists, and most importantly, children. When a driver speeds through a local neighborhood or near a school, it increases the chance of hitting a pedestrian. Drivers should expect that pedestrians and children should be in these areas and take special precautions. This begins with traveling at a safe speed.

A driver can also be speeding while going below the posted speed limit. Massachusetts law requires that drivers never travel so fast so that it’s unsafe. That’s the basic requirement of drivers. This could mean going slower than the speed limit based on a variety of factors including:

• Traffic conditions
• The condition of the road, including if the road is wet, icy, or snowy.
• Visibility: If a driver cannot see far enough, traveling fast can be especially dangerous;
• Presence of Pedestrians and/or Bicycles on the road.

If these or other conditions are present, it could be that by going the speed limit, a driver is traveling in an unsafe manner. Hence, the driver would be speeding.

Whether a driver is speeding on the highway, in front of a school, or during a snowstorm, serious injuries can occur.

• A driver speeding on the highway can lose control and cause high speed crashes that are often fatal.
• A driver speeding in front of a school can strike a child, causing lifelong injuries.
• A driver speeding in the snow can lose control and hit an oncoming vehicle head-on.

In any of these situations, speed kills.

If you or a loved one are the victim of a speeding driver, you need an experienced lawyer to handle your case and get you the compensation you deserve. At Marcotte Law Firm, we have the experience necessary. We understand the danger of speeding, and we know how to present your case to the insurance company and a jury. We will get you the compensation you deserve.

Please call the experienced Car Accident lawyers at Marcotte Law Firm for a free consultation.