Speed is a significant factor in many severe or fatal injury accidents. In one recent year, speeding contributed to 26 percent of all traffic fatalities, killing more than 25 people per day, on average. Even though most drivers agree that the practice is dangerous, it is clear that most people still do it from time to time, which is a significant concern.
There is no doubt that exceeding the posted speed limit is dangerous and puts everyone on the road in harm’s way. If a speeding driver injured you, you have the right to demand fair compensation for the harm you’ve suffered and losses you’ve incurred.
Don’t let someone’s poor decisions cost you. Contact an experienced Wilmington speeding car accident lawyer at Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, to discuss your rights and legal options for free.
How to Prove Another Driver Was Over the Speed Limit
The following types of valuable evidence could be used to support your speeding car accident claim:
- Photos of skid marks and vehicle damage from the crash
- Videos from traffic cameras, security cameras, and dashcams
- Police crash reports, which often contain information about traffic violations
- Statements from eyewitnesses who saw the crash
- Testimony from expert witnesses such as accident reconstruction specialists
Injuries Caused by Speeding Car Accidents in Wilmington
Common injuries from speeding car accidents in Wilmington include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBI)
- Spinal cord injuries
- Neck and back injuries
- Dislocations and fractures
- Soft-tissue injuries
- Abdominal injuries
- Amputation and loss of limb
- Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
Speeding Driver Car Crashes Can Be Fatal
Exceeding posted speed limits or driving too fast for road conditions can:
- Increase the driver’s chances of losing control of the vehicle.
- Make seatbelts, airbags, and other safety equipment less effective in a crash.
- Reduce the amount of time the driver has to stop to avoid a potential hazard or crash
- Increase the vehicle’s stopping distance when the driver applies the brakes, resulting in a rear-end collision.
- Decrease the effectiveness of guardrails, dividers, and barriers designed to protect vehicle occupants involved in crashes.
- Increase the force and severity of a collision, resulting in severe and potentially fatal injuries.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding has been a factor in roughly one-third of all traffic fatalities over the past 20 years. In North Carolina, the Department of Transportation (DOT) reports 25.1 percent of statewide traffic fatalities were speeding-related in one recent year.
North Carolina Speeding Accident Statistics
The North Carolina DOT published the following alarming statistics about speeding-related accidents throughout the state. Crashes are considered speeding-related if one of the drivers involved was charged for speeding-related offenses or if exceeding posted speed limits, driving too fast for conditions, or illegal racing contributed to the crash.
- There were 18,340 speeding-related crashes throughout North Carolina in a single recent year, accounting for 7.4 percent of all statewide crashes.
- There were 416 fatalities caused by speeding-related crashes, up more than 20 percent from the recent four-year average of 344 deaths per year.
- There were 8,902 reported injuries caused by speeding-related crashes, accounting for 8.2 percent of all statewide crash-related injuries that year.
- The most common speeding-related contributing circumstances in North Carolina accidents included failure to reduce speed, driving too fast for conditions, and exceeding authorized speed limits.
Additional data from the National Safety Council (NSC) demonstrates how speeding is even more dangerous when poor road conditions are present. In one recent year, speeding was a contributing factor in the following types of fatal crashes:
- 16 percent of speeding-related fatal crashes on dry roads
- 19 percent of speeding-related fatal crashes on wet roads
- 39 percent of speeding-related fatal crashes on snowy or slushy roads
- 40 percent of speeding-related fatal crashes on flooded roads
- 41 percent of speeding-related fatal crashes on muddy or gravelly roads
- 43 percent of speeding-related fatal crashes on icy or frosty roads
What Can I Do If a Speeding Driver hit me in Wilmington, NC?
Here are some simple steps you can take to protect your legal rights and your ability to recover after a speeding car accident in Wilmington:
- Seek immediate medical care. Get prompt medical attention, so your injuries are diagnosed, treated, and added to your medical records.
- Follow your doctor’s orders. Follow the care plan your doctor prescribes, and be sure to attend all follow-up appointments.
- Gather as much evidence as possible. Gather evidence from the accident scene, such as the other driver’s contact and insurance details, photos of the scene, and statements from any available eyewitnesses.
- Keep track of important documents. Hang on to all accident-related documents, including medical records and medical bills, pay stubs to show missed time at work, and repair estimates for vehicle damage.
- Take notes about your recovery. Compensation for pain and suffering is an essential component in many injury claims. You can support your claim by recording daily observations about the level of pain you feel and any limitations you suffer.
- Watch what you say to others. When you speak to other parties, their insurance companies, or other attorneys, watch what you say about the accident. Do not apologize or accept blame, as this could be seen as an admission of guilt. Never agree to provide a written or recorded statement.
- Be careful on social media. If you use social media, avoid posting photos of yourself or sharing information about the accident online. Your account may not be as secure as you think, and anything you say or share while your claim is pending could be used against you.
- Contact a knowledgeable attorney. It’s best to contact a knowledgeable Wilmington attorney as soon as possible after a speeding car accident. The sooner you have a lawyer on your side, the sooner they can take the stress off you and handle the legal legwork while you focus on recovering.
Talk to Our Experienced Wilmington Speeding Car Accident Lawyers Today
At Poisson, Poisson & Bower, PLLC, our experienced car accident attorneys want to help you if you’ve been severely injured in a car accident caused by speeding in Wilmington. If you’re struggling with mounting medical bills, lost wages, costly vehicle repairs, and more after an accident let our team help you seek fair compensation from the at-fault driver.
It won’t cost you anything to find out if you have a case. Our consultations are free of charge. Reach out to us online for a free consultation now.
