Most people drive faster than the speed limit at some point. There are those individuals who do it because they have no regard for the posted limits. Some do it to keep up with the flow of traffic. Then, some end up driving faster than they should because they are dealing with a distraction. No matter the reason for it, speeding is a form of driver negligence and is often a contributing factor in fatal auto accidents.
Sadly, speeding is an issue in every state. It is impossible to drive anywhere without seeing one or more people driving well above the posted speeds. How many fatal car accidents can one attribute to speeding, though?
The numbers
According to data offered by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the most recent year available, which is 2017:
- 22% of fatal auto collisions in the United States were the result of speeding
- 17.7% of fatal crashes in Texas have speeding listed as a contributing factor
- Southern states, in general, see fewer speeding-related auto collisions than other parts of the country
So, Texas ranks lower than the national average and far lower than Washington D.C., which has most speeding-related fatal accidents every year. Still, all of these accidents are highly preventable. The goal of lawmakers and law enforcement officers is to get these percentages down to zero.
What are law enforcement officers doing?
All law enforcement officers can do is stop and ticket those who fail to obey posted speed limits. In certain circumstances, they may arrest some offenders. As it currently stands, police officers across the country issue around 125,000 speeding tickets every single day. That equates to millions of citations a year. Those with multiple offenses on their record may face increased penalties rather than just fines.
What can you do if you lost a loved one in a speeding-related auto accident?
Fatal auto accidents are devastating in a number of ways. If you lost a loved one in such an incident, caused by a driver who was speeding, you may have legal recourse. According to state laws, you may file a wrongful death claim against the responsible driver in an effort to seek compensation for your losses. Your case may not see a courtroom. Instead, there is a possibility of reaching an out-of-court settlement. If that does not work out, you may take your case to civil court.
If you are not sure if you have a case, or if you are not sure what relief may be available to you, it is okay to ask questions. With the right assistance, it is possible to determine if legal action is appropriate following fatal auto accidents.