The exact relationship between the speed of a vehicle and the risk of a car accident depends on several factors, with speed being only one factor in the equation. However, we will generally see that an increase in speed certainly increases the risk of a traffic collision. Additionally, at higher speeds, any incident is more likely to result in severe injuries for those involved.
The Relationship Between Speed and Car Accidents
Information from the Arizona Department of Transportation shows that there were more than 20,000 injuries resulting from traffic collisions caused by speeding in 2022. Unfortunately, speeding incidents took 426 lives that year across the state.
Speeding is the leading cause of vehicle accident injuries and fatalities in Arizona year after year. The relationship between speed and vehicle accident injury severity is undeniable.
Studies show that the faster a car is driven, the higher the risk of being involved in a collision. Perhaps the obvious reason for this is the longer braking distance needed to effectively avoid a collision when speeds are higher. Additionally, human beings are limited in their ability to process information and then act on it. The faster a person is driving, the less time they give themselves to respond to any adverse conditions on the roadway.
The same studies that show vehicle accidents are more likely to occur as speed increases also indicate that injury severity is directly impacted by the speed of the vehicles involved in the collision. Experience Phoenix personal injury attorneys have seen numerous cases in which higher speeds almost always increase the risk of severe injuries occurring, including fractured and dislocated bones, spinal cord trauma, traumatic brain injuries, internal bleeding and organ damage, and more.
How Does Speeding Affect the Outcome of an Accident Claim?
After an accident occurs, police will come to the scene to conduct an investigation. If law enforcement officials believe that speed contributed to the incident, they will likely note this down in the accident report, and they may even issue a speeding citation to another driver at the scene. Drivers and passengers who sustain injuries or property damage as a result of the actions of a speeding driver may be able to recover compensation for their losses.
However, it is not always clear that speed contributed to an incident. Law enforcement officials may not have sufficient evidence to cite a person for speeding, but there may be other types of evidence that can be used to determine whether or not a driver was operating too fast for conditions. This can include talking to eyewitnesses, examining surveillance footage from nearby cameras, and even obtaining vehicle black box data.
Contact an Attorney After a Collision
Individuals in Arizona who sustain injuries caused by the actions of a speeding driver should reach out to an attorney as soon as possible. A car accident lawyer in Phoenix can examine the facts of your case and help you choose the best steps moving forward. This may involve filing an insurance claim against another driver’s insurance carrier, but you may need to file a personal injury lawsuit in civil court. If your injuries were caused by a speeding driver, an attorney may be able to help you recover compensation for your medical bills, property damage expenses, lost earnings, and pain and suffering damages.