Speeding Car Accidents

Many people drive over the posted speed limit, thinking it to be a harmless action. Sometimes that may be the case, but driving at excessive speeds, especially when engaging in other risky behavior, may lead to serious injuries on the road. Providence car accident attorney David Tapalian offers compassionate and experienced legal guidance to victims who have been seriously injured in a speeding accident. Having practiced law for over 20 years, he assists clients with personal injury claims against negligent drivers, making sure that they pursue the compensation that they need to deal with the costs of their injuries. People who have been struck by a speeding driver should contact our office to set up a free consultation about their potential case.

Speed limits are imposed for a reason – to make sure that the roadways are safe for motorists, pedestrians, and others. Many considerations go into setting which speed is safe for vehicles to travel, including the population of a certain area, the presence of schools, how frequent pedestrians are, and roadway conditions and width. When drivers exceed the speed limit, it makes it more difficult to stop when approaching slower traffic. Additionally, when a speeding vehicle hits another motorist or pedestrian, the impact has more force, which may lead to more severe injuries or even be fatal. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has reported that speeding is a factor in approximately one-third of all fatal car accidents across the United States. Furthermore, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, teenage drivers are more likely than other age groups to speed, and they also have more of a tendency to follow other vehicles closely. Given these propensities, dangerous speeding collisions often involve young drivers.

A speeding driver may cause permanent, debilitating injuries, such as a traumatic brain injury, paralysis, and other conditions that require long hospital stays, rehabilitative therapy, and adjustments to a victim’s daily life. Drivers traveling at excessive speeds may be found negligent and therefore liable for the harm that they cause. Negligence exists when an individual breaches a duty of care owed to another person, and that action causes the victim’s injuries, resulting in damages. Drivers owe others on the road a duty of care to act as a reasonable and prudent person would behave under the same circumstances. A speeding driver who causes a crash thus may be viewed as acting unreasonably.

Negligence per se, or negligence as a matter of law, is a simpler legal theory under which negligence is presumed when an individual violates a safety law designed to protect the type of person who was harmed. Speed limit regulations are designed to protect road users, so someone traveling above the limit may be found negligent as a matter of law if a crash results.

If they are found liable, a speeding driver may be held responsible for a victim’s medical expenses, both those that are already incurred and those that are expected in the future, as well as property loss, loss of earning capacity, and loss of income. In Rhode Island and Massachusetts, victims have three years from the date of the accident in which to file a personal injury claim. Consulting an experienced attorney soon after a speeding accident is important to make sure that the proper evidence, such as police reports, medical records, and expert testimony, can be collected and carefully prepared.

When speeding accidents lead to the death of a loved one, family members may also pursue a claim to seek expenses for burial arrangements, as well as their loss of support. Providence lawyer David Tapalian offers compassionate and knowledgeable legal guidance for victims and their families in the emotional aftermath of a serious car accident. Based in Providence and Seekonk, Tapalian Law assists clients throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts. If you have questions regarding your legal rights after a speeding accident, contact us online or at (401) 552-5000 for a free appointment with a motor vehicle collision attorney.