Hit by a Speeding Driver? Our Accident Attorneys Can Help.
When you get behind the wheel of a car, you’re expected to operate it safely, keeping your attention on the road with little distraction. Some drivers may feel that driving faster than the posted limit is okay. However, speeding is dangerous.
In 2020, speeding killed 11,528 people. If you or a loved one were injured by a speeding driver in Chicago, call our speeding accident lawyers to explore legal options to recover financially after a crash.
Call (312) 236-2900 to schedule a free consultation of your case.
What Are the Major Causes of Speeding?
Speeding is one of the easiest ways to lose control of a vehicle. Many other dangers to driving have outside factors. Speeding is usually a decision by the driver.
Common causes for speeding can include:
- Traffic: when the road gets congested, drivers may want to go faster to get ahead of the pack. This could result in wrecks or collisions.
- Running late: interruptions or delays could occur whenever someone gets on the road. A driver might think they can get back on track, but speeding rarely makes up any time.
- Anonymity: drivers may feel insulated inside their cars. Because they aren’t directly interacting with people, they may decide that speeding or acting recklessly will not have consequences.
- Driving under the influence: drinking and driving can often result in speeding. Drinking impairs judgment, and drivers might not realize they’re speeding.
- General disregard for the law: some drivers don’t want to follow the speed limit. They could feel like there won’t be anyone to see their reckless behavior. There can be dire consequences when someone ignores road safety laws.
Speed Limits and Other Causes of Speeding Crashes
According to the Illinois State Police, the maximum speed limit is 70 miles per hour on interstate highways outside urban areas, 65 mph on rural interstates, 55 mph on interstates near or in major cities, and 30 mph in an urban setting unless there’s another speed posted.
These speeds are set by law to help protect drivers — when they are ignored, dangerous accidents can happen.
Rear-End Collisions
Cars require a certain distance to slow down successfully. The faster they travel, along with the size of the vehicle, means that distance increases. When a car is speeding, emergency stopping is challenging.
For example, semi-trucks take longer to slow down than passenger vehicles, but a car will still need 245 feet to stop when traveling 70 miles per hour. That distance jumps to 320 feet when the car goes 80 mph. If you’re driving on the highway and need to brake, a speeder is more likely to hit you. Rear-end collisions can cause severe injuries and damage.
Hazardous Road Conditions
When drivers follow the speed limit, they have more time to react to bad road conditions—like poor infrastructure, bad weather, or a construction zone. However, speeding drivers might not have enough time to respond. That could mean an accident that results in death or injuries.
Street Warning Signs
Road signs are meant to alert a driver to their route. Even if some signs are missing or improperly posted, an alert driver will have time to react.
However, a speeding driver could be moving too quickly and miss a stop sign or a “curve ahead” sign, which could result in a crash.
What Kind of Accidents Can Speeding Cause?
Driving faster than the posted limit means drivers have less time to react. It also means safety equipment, like guardrails, is less effective in an emergency.
In 2020, there were about 30 people killed a day by speeding. There were 10,136 fatal crashes attributed to speeding.
Common accidents caused by speeding include:
Crashes often result in injuries. Excessive speeding could increase the chances of injuries, like:
What Kind of Compensation Can You Get for a Speeding Crash in Chicago?
If you were the victim of a crash when the other driver was speeding, it’s likely you could receive compensation. Drivers have a duty of care to drive as safely as possible. If a driver breaches that duty by speeding, they could be considered negligent.
Negligent drivers could be made to pay for economic and non-economic damages after a crash. Economic damages are the “real” cost of the collision. A defendant could be forced to pay for a victim’s medical bills, future medical expenses, household maintenance fees, or diminished earning capacity.
Non-economic damages are more conceptual and difficult to calculate. These things might not have a specific monetary value, but they are losses you suffer after a crash. Non-economic injuries include a diminished quality of living, mental anguish, disfigurement, loss of consortium, and pain and suffering.
How Do I Recover Damages after a Speeding Crash?
You can work with an experienced Chicago car accident attorney to recover your losses. You must file a claim within two years of your accident and prove the other driver was speeding to secure a payout.
You can rely on the police report as proof the other driver was speeding. You might also be able to use dash cams from other cars in the area. There might be cameras in the area that capture video of the driver speeding, which is helpful.
Your attorney might suggest using a crash reconstruction specialist to argue that the other car exceeded safe speeds. They can look at the scene and put the crash together in a way a jury or court can understand.
When Can I Expect Payment?
Once you’ve filed a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company, they might offer you a lowball settlement. Work with your attorney to determine if the offer is valid or prepare to negotiate a more equitable payment.
If both parties can’t agree, you may need to take the matter to court and let a judge decide.
What Can Affect My Payout?
Some factors could lower your final payout. Illinois follows a comparative negligence rule. If a driver contributes more than 50% to their crash, they cannot receive compensation. Any fault less than 50% will be subtracted from the potential payout.
For instance, when a crash victim expects to receive $100,000 for a crash, and they’re 20% at fault, they’ll only receive $80,000.
How Can a Chicago Car Accident Attorney Help Me?
The aftermath of a car crash can be stressful. You should focus on recovering without worrying about the legal aspects of the impact.
An attorney will understand what you need to build your case, how to get your claim started, and when to proceed with a lawsuit. They can help you calculate the true value of your losses and keep you informed as your case proceeds.
Get Help from a Chicago Speeding Accident Attorney Now
At Staver Accident Injury Lawyers, P.C., we understand how traumatic a car crash can be. When someone neglects their duty and injures or kills someone in a speeding crash, they should be held accountable.
You can rest assured that Attorney Jared Staver and his team are ready to hear your case and work with you to recover the maximum compensation possible.
Get started with a free consultation by calling (312) 236-2900 or using our online form.
