The effect of speeding on fatal car accidents

 Posted on June 23, 2015 in Car Accidents

California drivers may be interested in some of the effects of speeding on fatal car crashes. While the overall number of auto fatalities has gone down, the percentage due to speeding has remained relatively steady.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding is one of the biggest contributing factors to auto collisions. The NHTSA classifies a speeding-related crash as one where a driver involved was charged with an offense related to their speed, or where an officer indicated that racing or speeding was a factor in the accident. In the years between 2003 and 2012 the number of speeding-related fatalities dropped by around 3,000. However, these car accidents still make up a similar percentage of total vehicle fatalities. For example, speeding was a factor in around 31 percent of car crash deaths in 2003, compared to 30 percent in 2012.

Drivers in speed-related fatal accidents are more likely to be younger males, though nearly a quarter of female drivers involved in fatal motor vehicle accidents in 2012 were speeding at the time. The likelihood that speeding is involved in an auto accident decreases consistently with age. Alcohol was a factor in 42 percent of speed-related fatalities, according to the 2012 statistics. The blood alcohol content of drivers in the 21- to 24-year-old range was above the legal limit in 50 percent of fatal speed-related crashes.

Those who are injured in accidents caused by speeding drunk drivers often face significant medical expenses and prolonged periods of recovery during which they are unable to work. Many find it worthwhile to speak with a personal injury attorney to determine if there is any legal recourse available to obtain compensation for the damages that have been sustained.