Speeding drivers present a significant danger on the road. If you have been hurt because of a reckless driver, a Greenville car accident lawyer can help you seek justice. Proving a driver was speeding is often the key to recovering the compensation you deserve.
When a driver exceeds the speed limit, they increase the risk of a serious collision. The faster a car moves, the less time the driver has to react and the longer it takes to stop. This negligent behavior is a major factor in car accidents and can lead to severe injuries and property damage.
After a crash, it is necessary to gather specific evidence to prove that speeding contributed to the collision. You must establish not only that the other driver was speeding, but that the high speed was the direct cause of the collision.
At David R. Price, Jr., P.A., our attorneys know what evidence is required to hold reckless drivers accountable. We are ready to investigate your crash and build a strong legal case on your behalf.
Why Speeding Is One of the Leading Causes of Car Accidents
Speeding is a major factor in car accidents because it affects a driver’s ability to control their vehicle and react to dangers. When a car travels faster than the posted speed limit, it covers much more ground every second. This means the driver has less time to see a problem and respond, such as braking or swerving.
High speed also directly affects the distance a vehicle takes to stop. This is known as the stopping distance, which increases significantly as a car speeds up. If a speeding driver has to suddenly stop, they will need a longer distance to bring their vehicle to a complete halt. This increased stopping distance often leads them to hit another car, a pedestrian, or an object.
Finally, high speed makes crashes much more severe. The force of impact in an accident increases with the square of the speed. This means a small increase in speed can result in a huge increase in destructive force. Because of this added force, crashes involving speeding drivers are far more likely to cause catastrophic injuries or death to everyone involved.
How to Prove Someone Was Speeding in an Accident
Proving that the other driver exceeded the speed limit can help to connect that driver’s reckless behavior directly to your injuries. Here is how to gather evidence of a high rate of speed at the scene:
- Witness Statements: Eyewitnesses may have observed the other vehicle traveling at an unsafe or excessive speed just before the crash. Their testimony can be crucial in proving that someone was speeding in an accident.
- Police Report: The investigating officer may have issued a citation for speeding or noted specific evidence of speed, such as long skid marks, in their report.
- Physical Evidence: The extent and type of damage to the vehicles, skid marks on the road, and the final resting position of the cars can all offer physical clues about the speed involved.
Digital & Technological Evidence That Proves Speeding
Modern vehicles and technology often contain data that can definitively show how fast a driver was going.
Black Boxes (Event Data Recorders, or EDRs)
Many newer cars are equipped with EDRs that record data such as vehicle speed, throttle position, brake status, and seat belt use in the seconds leading up to and during a collision. A court order is typically required to access this important information.
Traffic Camera Footage
Cameras at intersections or nearby businesses may have captured video of the accident. This footage can show the driver’s speed and their behavior immediately before the impact.
Cell Phone Records
While more difficult to obtain, a driver’s cell phone records could show whether they were using an app that records speed, like a navigation app, at the time of the crash.
How Accident Reconstruction Can Help Win Speeding Cases
When physical and digital evidence is complex, an accident reconstruction expert can bring clarity to your case. These experts analyze physical evidence found at the scene, such as the length and type of skid marks left by the vehicles, the final resting positions of the cars, and the extent of vehicle damage. By examining these factors, they can perform complex calculations to accurately estimate the speed of the vehicles just before impact.
An accident reconstruction expert can establish a direct link between the excessive speed and the cause of the crash. For example, they can determine if the driver would have had enough time and distance to stop or react safely if they had been traveling at the legal speed limit.
This expert testimony often provides a clear, scientific explanation to the jury, effectively countering the other driver’s claims that the crash was unavoidable or that they were not speeding. This process is essential for showing that a speeding driver’s negligence directly caused the victim’s injuries, which is key to winning the case and securing fair compensation.
Common Arguments that Speeding Drivers Use and How to Overcome Them
Speeding drivers and their insurance companies will often try to shift blame or downplay the role of speed. Common arguments include:
- “I was only going a little over the limit.” Speeding is speeding. Any speed over the limit can be negligent, especially if conditions were poor.
- “The accident was unavoidable anyway.” Accident reconstruction can show that if the driver had been traveling at the speed limit, they would have had enough time to stop or avoid the crash.
- “You were partially at fault.” The legal strategy here is to show that even if you were partially at fault, the speeding driver’s reckless behavior was the primary cause of your serious injuries.
An experienced legal team can anticipate these defenses and use evidence to refute them effectively.
How a Greenville Car Accident Lawyer Can Help
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident caused by speeding, the attorneys at David R. Price, Jr., P.A., can help you by:
- Investigating the accident scene and quickly securing time-sensitive evidence, such as EDR data and surveillance video.
- Working with accident reconstruction specialists to establish fault and prove the connection between the high speed and your injuries.
- Handling all communication and negotiations with insurance companies.
- Fighting to get you fair compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Contact Our Greenville Car Accident Lawyer
If you are struggling with medical expenses and lost income after an accident, contact the attorneys at David R. Price, Jr., P.A. at 864-271-2636. We offer a free consultation to discuss your case and explain to you how we can help you pursue justice.