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Speeding: A Leading Cause of Car Accidents

Speeding is one of the most common and preventable causes of car accidents. Almost 30% of all car accident deaths are caused by speeding. Bucks County personal injury lawyer Michael L. Saile, Jr. has numerouse clients who have suffered car accident injuries as a result of being hit by a speeding driver - whether in a rear-end accident, a head-on collision, or some other type of speeding-related accident.

How does speeding cause Philadelphia area car accidents?

1. Speed increases the amount of space that a driver has before they have to start stopping. The higher the speed, the faster you come upon a traffic light, stop sign, or another car. If this distance is misconceived, this could lead to slamming on the brakes, or not being able to stop in time, causing an accident.

2. Speed decreases the driver's ability to maneuver curves and turns in the road. The higher speed at which a person is driving, the wider they are going to have to go around curves and sharp turns, which could turn out to be deadly if a collision with another vehicle or object occurs. Also, if there is debris in the middle of the road that has fallen from a tree or from other cars, increased speed decreases the driver's ability to swerve safely around that as well.

3. As self-explanatory as this seems, the higher the speed, the more distance a driver covers in a given amount of time. This could lead to a decrease in reaction time to factors such as brake lights ahead of them, a deer that runs into the road, or something like a children's ball that rolls into the street. If you are speeding, you will come up on these sudden situations must faster than you would if driving at the appropriate (posted) speed.

Car accidents that are caused by speeding result in so many fatalities because the faster you are driving, the more momentum you have. Hitting someone at 20 miles per hour will cause less damage than hitting someone at 60 miles per hour. The more momentum against the car accident victim, the more severe their accident injuries can be.

Behaviors associated with speeding

Police officers are often on the lookout for people who speed because they recognize how dangerous it can be and how many Bucks County accidents occur due to speeding . Speeding is a form of aggressive driving, which enhances the chance of other aggressive driving behavior such as not using a turn signal, weaving in and out of traffic, tailgating, and not fully stopping at stop signs.

If you have been a victim of a Bucks County or Philadelphia car accident caused by a driver going at excessive speed, you may want to speak to a personal injury lawyer. The Bucks County personal injury law firm of Saile & Saile LLP has experience in accident injury cases and may be able to help. Learn more about what to do as an accident victim in our FREE Pennsylvania car accident book. To speak to a personal injury attorney, call our offices today.