Speeding

Speeding is one of the top contributing factors in car accidents. In fact, speeding is a factor in over 30% of fatal car accidents. While many believe that most speeding occurs on highways, in reality speeding is also a problem on in residential areas and in other areas that have low speed limits. Speeding poses a serious problem because those traveling at high speeds need more time to stop to avoid colliding with another vehicle or avoid hitting a pedestrian. In addition, speeding cars exert more energy meaning that collisions are more violent or deadly. This means that victims of speeding accidents are more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries such as a traumatic brain injury, amputations, broken or crushed bones, or a spinal cord injury that results in paralysis. These types of injuries involve long recovery times, with the victim being unable to work for weeks or even months. However, under New York law victims of car accidents are allowed to seek compensation from the person whose negligence resulted in the car accident. If you are in need of a New York Injury Lawyer because you or a family member was injured in a car accident where the driver was speeding, it is important to contact an experienced Bronx Speeding Accident Injury Lawyer who will help ensure that the person responsible for your losses is held accountable in a personal injury or wrongful death claim.

Different people speed for different reasons. Some drivers are habitual speeders because they are risk takes and believe that they are above the law. In extreme cases drivers engage in the highly dangerous activity of street racing on public roadways. In 2014 5 teenagers were killed and others victims injured in a street racing accident on Long Island. Other drivers speed when they are in a hurry, such as when they are late for an appointment or are late for work. Still other drivers do not speed purposely, but do not pay close attention to how fast they are driving.

Keep in mind that speeding does not occur only when a driver travels at a speed above the posted speed limit. A driver is considered to be speeding or driving recklessly when that driver drives faster than prudent given road and weather conditions. For example, a driver would be driving recklessly if he or she drove at the posted speed limit when there is thick fog or when there is a heavy snow storm.

Victims of speeding are passengers, occupants of other cars, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and pedestrians. Because of the impact of a car that is traveling at a high speed, the injuries tend to be catastrophic, such as:

• Traumatic brain injuries
• Back and spinal cord injuries
• Neck injuries
• Amputations
• Broken or crushed bones
• Whiplash
• Face injuries
• Scrapes, bruises, and lacerations
• Death

Those injured in car accidents suffer a variety of serious injuries that require extensive treatment. This means substantial medical bills and missed work. However, New York law gives injured victims the right to seek compensation from the negligent party. The types of compensation that you may be able to recover if you file a claim against the negligent person include:

• Lost wages
• Medical bills including bills from the hospital, your doctors, prescriptions and bills associated with medical equipment
• Damage to your vehicle
• Pain and suffering

If a family member was killed in the accident, the law allows the decedent’s personal representative to seek damages through a wrongful death claim

Beware that New York law has a specific time limit for filing a claim in a personal injury case. If you do not file your claim within the time period, you will be forever barred from collecting damages even if your case has merit.

A car accident leaves victims in both physical pain and financial pain. Thus, it is important to hold the negligent party accountable for their actions. If you were injured in a car accident, in order to ensure that your rights are protected, it is important to contact an attorney who not only has experience handing car accidents, but is also familiar with the medical issues victims of such accidents experience. The staff at Stephen Bilkis and Associates has extensive experience representing clients injured in car accidents, construction accidents, truck accidents, as well as other types of accidents. Contact us at 800.696.9529 to schedule a free, no obligation consultation regarding your car accident.