Hartford Speeding Accident Lawyer

Speeding is a big problem on roads. It can be dangerous for everyone using the right of way, including other drivers, their passengers, and pedestrians. Whether they are late to work or just feel they own the road, speeding is not the answer to getting somewhere faster.

When drivers go faster than they are supposed to, it significantly increases their risk of being involved in a terrible accident, inflicting substantial medical costs, property damages, and even death upon others.

If you are the victim of a car accident due to speeding, know that you do not have to file your claim and handle negotiations on your own. Bert McDowell Injury Law is ready to assist you.

Let us review your case during a free, no-obligation consultation. We can discuss your options for holding the at-fault parties accountable for the damages you have suffered.

Give us a call today to get started. Call (203) 633-7449 or contact us online to schedule your free case review with an experienced Hartford attorney today.

Why Hire a Hartford Speeding Accident Attorney?

One of the most common causes of car accidents is speeding. When one drives over the speed limit, they limit their response window, shrinking it the faster they go, and, as a result, if they need to stop or turn, they may find insufficient time to stop before hitting another car.

Worse, accidents at higher speeds generate greater impact forces, turning what could have been a fender bender into a deadly situation.

As a victim of a speeding accident, you may find that you are hurt and you have suffered costly losses. To make matters worse, the other driver, and even their insurance company, might be reluctant to help compensate you for the damages they caused.

Know that in Connecticut, you have rights and options. A speeding accident attorney can help you negotiate with insurance companies, investigate the accident, and get fair compensation.

Here are some ways in which a speeding accident attorney assists your claim, increasing its chances of success:

• Gathering evidence — Attorneys know how to identify and collect relevant evidence from an accident scene. They will extensively review and analyze police reports, witness statements, and any available surveillance footage that will confirm the other party’s negligence.
• Reviewing traffic violations — Attorneys will obtain and review any traffic citations or violations issued at the scene. Since the police will only issue citations if they believe someone was in the wrong, it helps solidify your claim.
• Generating accident reenactments — If necessary, an attorney will consult an accident reconstruction expert to recreate what occurred at the scene. The details of the reenactment will help establish the speed at which the vehicles are traveling, proving if someone was speeding.
• Negotiating with insurance companies — Attorneys handle all communications with insurance companies, preventing pressuring tactics that can negatively affect compensation amounts. They will also present all information on behalf of their client.
• Protecting your legal rights — Attorneys ensure their client’s legal rights are protected throughout the investigation. This may include providing legal counsel, representation in court, and advising on what to say to insurance adjusters and the other parties involved.

What Is Considered “Speeding”?

Local authorities set speed limits designed to ensure the safety of drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and others sharing the road. But when this rule is broken, that driver is “speeding,” which is a traffic violation that involves exceeding the posted speed limits or driving too fast for the road conditions.

Unfortunately, speeding is a common occurrence. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) stated that speeding typically happens regardless of destination or the driver’s age. It is also the contributor to 29% of all traffic fatalities.

Drivers may feel they need to get somewhere quickly or that it is a race and do what they can to get there faster. The reality is that speed might only shave off a few minutes from their commute but will significantly increase their risk of hurting someone else or themselves.

No matter the circumstances, drivers should abide by speed limits if they wish to get from one place to the other safely.

What Happens if Someone Causes a Speeding Accident?

Speeding is illegal no matter where you go, and if someone causes an accident because of it, they will be responsible for paying fines and suffering additional consequences. In Connecticut, drivers will face these consequences for speeding:

• Pay a fine — Speeding fines are among the most common citations issued after an accident. The fine typically increases with how much faster the driver goes compared to the speed limit, and it can easily reach hundreds of dollars. Fines are often specified in local traffic laws.
• Driver’s license points and suspension — Connecticut uses a point system to track the number and severity of traffic violations. Typically, drivers who exceed the speed limit will see points added to their license. With enough points on a license, drivers may be required to attend driving school or may face license suspension. Some “super speeders” may also face an immediate license suspension.
• Increased insurance premiums — Speeding convictions will lead to higher auto insurance premiums. Tickets and accidents are just some of the contributing factors insurance companies use to determine a monthly rate for their clients. If they view a driver as a risk, they may elect to increase their insurance premium or drop them from their list altogether.

The Many Losses Associated with Speeding Accidents

According to UConn’s Connecticut Crash Data Repository, 18.77% of car accidents related to speeding occurred between January 2020 and October 2023. That percentage comes out to 115,910 accidents, in total, between these years.

This dataset includes exceeding the speed limit, racing, and driving too fast in hazardous road conditions.

Speeding accidents can have expensive costs and long-lasting losses. If you’ve been in this kind of accident, finding a lawyer who can help is critical to receiving the compensation your case deserves. Some examples of usual losses include:

• Medical Costs — Speeding accidents often lead to higher severity of injuries due to the increased force of impact. The medical costs may include an ER trip, hospital stay, treatment and medication, and more.
• Lost Wages — The total difference in your earnings when comparing average income before and after the accident.
• Property Damage — The damage one’s car receives in a high-speed accident can be catastrophic. The car will take on most of the force, designed to keep you as safe as possible. Victims may need to seek significant repairs or see a severe decline in value because of the damage. Property damage also includes buildings, personal items, and more.
• Pain and Suffering — Injuries sustained in speeding accidents may cause considerable physical pain, discomfort, and limitations, which may cause emotional distress, anxiety, and trauma due to the traumatic nature of the accident.

Types of Injuries in a Speeding Accident

Like many other types of accidents, the severity of the injuries depends on the circumstances of the crash. In many cases, speeding accidents result in more severe injuries, as the force applied to the human body at the time of the crash is significantly more than in other types of crashes.

Some commonly seen injuries include:

Bone Fractures

The human bone is strong and tolerates a lot of pressure in most circumstances. But when there is a sudden amount of pressure applied to a particular part of the bone, there is a chance that it will fracture in return

Broken bones are painful and can take many weeks, if not months, to recover fully. Victims with broken bones sometimes require a cast and even surgery to heal correctly.

Head Injuries

High-velocity collisions may cause the head to strike an object inside the car, like the frame, dashboard, airbag, or window. As a result, the victim may be left to deal with serious head injuries such as concussions, lacerations, or severe traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).

These injuries can be dangerous as they are not always visible at the accident scene and appear many days, if not weeks, later.

Internal Trauma

Blunt force trauma during a speeding collision may cause injuries to internal organs, resulting in complications such as internal bleeding or organ damage. Victims are typically rushed to the hospital when they show signs of internal trauma and may be left with no options but to seek surgery to correct the injury.

Leaving the injury as it is may lead to fatal results.

Soft Tissue Injuries

Muscles, tendons, and ligaments may be damaged in a speeding accident. Victims face sprains, strains, and contusions to their muscles, making it hard to move, walk, or lift.

As a result, they must seek medication to relieve pain and slings or even surgery to correct their injury.

Spinal Cord Injuries

The force of a speeding accident can affect the spine, causing injuries ranging from muscle strains to more severe conditions like herniated discs. Spinal injuries are one of the most dangerous injuries one can sustain in a car accident.

Since the spinal cord houses the body’s primary set of nerves, it can lead to devastating life-long disabilities and even paralysis that have no cure.

Let Your Local Hartford Speeding Accident Law Firm Handle Your Case

Car accidents caused by speeding can be very dangerous and cause significant physical harm. If you were the victim of a speeding accident, you may experience some confusion on how to move forward.

Know that you can call your local Hartford law firm, where we are dedicated to providing top-quality service and representation to our clients.

Call Bert McDowell Injury Law today. We have handled many speeding accident claims before and helped our prior clients achieve satisfying results.

Schedule your free case review with an experienced Hartford speeding injury attorney team when you call (203) 633-7449 or contact us online.