According to the National Security Council (NSC), speeding contributed to at least 25% of all reported car accidents in the United States as of 2018. Excessive speeding impairs a driver’s ability to react to dangerous situations and avoid crashes.
Speeding also reduces the ability of safety structures such as barriers or guardrails to protect passengers and drivers from getting injured, and it increases a vehicle’s stopping distance. Speeding accidents cause severe injuries and fatalities.
If the driver was speeding, they are likely to be at fault. However, there has to be enough evidence to prove that they were driving above the speed limit and that their actions caused the accident.
Experienced car accident attorneys have ways to prove that the at-fault driver was speeding. This is why you should always hire the right car accident attorney from a law firm like Albright, Stoddard, Warnick, and Albright to help you with this type of claim.
How an Attorney Can Prove a Driver Was Speeding
The streets, roads, or highways have various technology systems that are used to monitor various activities on them. Technology such as the internet, cameras, or other devices on the vehicles can help locate a vehicle’s location, speed, and when a driver used their brakes.
If the at-fault driver was speeding at the time of the accident, your attorney could use these technologies, their investigations, and expert reports to prove the same and get you fair compensation.
The Police Report
Police are mostly the first people to arrive at the scene of an accident. They collect reports, witness statements, driver’s statements, and analyze the scene to determine if the drivers broke any traffic rules, such as speeding. The police will give citations for traffic violations and note if speed was a factor in the accident.
Witness Statements
When you are in a car accident, it is crucial to collect witness statements and their contact details. Your lawyer can use the statements to help determine if the other driver was speeding. While witnesses may not be able to determine precisely how fast the driver was going, they can tell if a vehicle was moving faster than others, and this is a key detail.
Dash Cameras
Some vehicles have dashcam recorders that can help the police and attorneys approximate the speed the car was traveling. If the dashcam is in the victim’s car, they can freely share the information with the police or attorneys. However, if the dashcam or any other electronic data is in another driver’s car, you will need their permission to access any data or footage that you need.
Analyzing Evidence and Vehicle Damage
Apart from the police report, witness statements, and footage, your lawyer can use other physical evidence to show that the driver was speeding. Attorneys hire expert investigators who look at details such as skid marks, the extent of damages to the vehicles or guardrails to determine speed. Accident reconstruction experts and investigators come in handy in determining how the crash occurred and if speed was a contributing factor.
Work with an Experienced Car Accident Attorney to Determine Fault
If you have been injured by a speeding driver, you should call an experienced attorney to help you with your claim. Proving a driver was speeding at the time of the accident is not easy; you will need the right help.
Experienced attorneys know what to look into the matter and who to consult to help prove that the at-fault driver was speeding. They will increase your chances of a successful and fair settlement.
