Des Moines Speeding Accident Lawyers
A Negligent Driver May be Liable for Your Damages
Speed limits in Des Moines are carefully calculated and enforced to protect the safety of drivers on the road. Unfortunately, these posted limits are often ignored by reckless or negligent drivers.
Speeding greatly increases the chance of an auto accident, limiting the driver’s ability to react. Additionally, any accident that does occur will often be more severe due to the increased energy released upon collision.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding accounted for 9,378 motor-vehicle related deaths in 2018.
In 2017, speeding was a contributing factor in 26% of all traffic fatalities nationwide. In fact, for the past 20 years, speeding has been involved in over one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities.
In Iowa in 2017, there were 330 deaths from 301 fatal car accidents. This accounted for 10.5 deaths per 100,000 people in Iowa. The US Department of Transportation states that approximately 70% of all fatal crashes on roadways with speed limits of 40 mph or less occur in urban areas. About 47% of all fatal crashes occurring on roadways with speed limits between 45 mph and 50 mph occur in rural areas.
Victims of speeding accidents may be burdened with steep medical expenses, life-altering injuries, and emotional trauma. Fortunately, those who have suffered because of a speeding accident in Des Moines may be eligible to receive compensation for any lost wages or other related expenses.
Have you been injured or has a loved one died because of a speeding accident? The lawyers at LaMarca Law Group, P.C. can help you can begin the process to get the full compensation you are entitled to.
Call (515) 705-0233 to speak to a representative from our legal team today.
Why Do Drivers Speed in Des Moines?
Speeding is considered an aggressive driving behavior. There are several reasons for the rise in aggressive driving:
- Traffic conditions: Congested roads, in Des Moines and throughout the nation, are the most common cause of aggressive driving, including speeding. Angry and aggravated with slowdowns, aggressive drivers respond by speeding while weaving in and out of traffic.
- Running late: With our addiction to busyness, which leads us to overschedule our lives, we end up constantly running from one place to another. Simply put, some drivers speed because they are running late for work, for school, for their children’s activities, or for other appointments.
- Anonymity: Driving alone in a vehicle can lead us to believe that we are cloaked from the world around us because no one else knows who we are or anything about us. This can lead drivers to engage in aggressive behaviors such as speeding because they are not engaged with nor accountable to the drivers around them in the way they would be if they knew all the drivers on the road with them.
- Thrill seeking: Some drivers, especially inexperienced or new drivers, will speed for the thrill of it. Young drivers, who may not understand or think of the consequences of their actions, will speed to get an adrenaline rush or to show off to their friends.
- Driving under the influence: When impaired drivers take to the road, poor decisions follow. Becoming intoxicated has the psychological effect of depressing a person’s emotional controls, such as the ability to reason, or the ability to think coherently. Irrational behavior such as speeding often, unfortunately, follows.
If you encounter a speeding driver on the road, you should move over and let them pass. The best way to stay safe is to steer clear of the danger a speeding driver poses to everyone else sharing the road with them. Be aware that speeding drivers can instantly lose control of their vehicles, so be sure to keep plenty of distance between your vehicle and theirs.
And finally, if there is a speeding driver who is harassing you, pull to safety as soon as you are able and call 911 to report the driver.
What Damages Am I Entitled to as a Victim of a Speeding Accident?
Citizens of Des Moines who were injured by the negligence of a speeding driver have remedies under the law.
Victims are entitled to a monetary award for the pain and suffering they are enduring. These awards take the nature and extent of the injury into consideration.
Serious bodily injuries caused by speeding can be worth millions of dollars. Compensation depends on the permanence of the injury and its symptoms, as well as the victim’s age and life expectancy. Spouses of victims injured by high-speed accidents may also claim monetary damages for loss of companionship of a spouse.
If you have been injured by a person who was speeding in Des Moines, you may also be entitled to economic damages. This would include monetary damages for lost income caused by the accident. If you can no longer work due to the severity of the injury, you could be entitled to lost wages for the remainder of your working life.
Finally, persons injured in an accident caused by a speeding vehicle are entitled to have all their medical bills reimbursed and to have the cost of any future medical care related to the speeding accident covered.
You should speak to an experienced and knowledgeable attorney at LaMarca Law Group, P.C. to discuss your legal remedies if you have been the victim of injuries caused by a speeding motor vehicle.
Contact a Des Moines Speeding Accident Lawyer for Help
At LaMarca Law Group, P.C., our lawyers are dedicated to achieving justice and rightful compensation for our clients in Des Moines. Our legal team is experienced in handling speeding accidents and can offer you the professional, high-quality legal assistance you deserve.
For more information on how a lawyer can help in your case, please call our Des Moines offices at (515) 705-0233 today.
Injuries Associated with Speeding Accidents
Speeding is not just breaking the law and paying a fine. Speeding is not just negative points that are applied against your license or increased insurance rates. The consequences of speeding accidents can be severe, resulting in life-changing injuries or death.
Speeding reduces the amount of time that a driver has to react in an emergency, increasing the likelihood that a crash will occur. Speeding also increases the amount of distance it will take to stop a vehicle. Excessive speeding also reduces the effectiveness of road safety equipment such are guardrails, median dividers, and concrete barriers.
However, the most significant consequence of speeding is that collisions with other vehicles at increased speeds can lead to an increased degree of crash severity which, in turn, can result in more severe injuries or fatalities.
Injuries that can be caused by excessive speeding include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs): Automobile accidents are a leading cause of traumatic brain injuries in adults and children. These injuries can include concussions, hematomas, subcranial hemorrhaging (brain bleeds), edema, and skull fractures.
- Fractured bones: Accidents with speeding vehicles can lead to broken arms, legs, ribs, ankles, and wrists. These types of injuries are usually treated in the emergency room and may require surgery to repair. In more serious injuries, insertion of metal hardware may be necessary to repair the fracture. The recovery period for people with severe fractures can last from several months to several years.
- Internal bleeding: High impact accidents can cause internal bleeding and injuries to internal organs. These types of injuries can be life-threatening and are almost always treated by emergency surgery.
- Nerve damage: Automobile accidents can cause serious peripheral nerve damage. Nerve damage can lead to sensations of pain, burning, numbness, and tingling. If a nerve is severely damaged, it can lead to muscle damage and weakness.
- Shattered limbs/amputation: High impact accidents caused by speeding can often lead to crush injuries (excessive force or pressure applied to body parts), especially when the vehicle sustains extensive damage. Shattered limbs and other appendages can lead to massive blood loss and tissue decay, which can lead to amputation.
- Neck and spine injuries: Accidents that occur at moderate speeds can cause injuries to the neck and back. These can include injuries such as whiplash or herniated discs. If your vehicle is involved in an accident with a speeding vehicle, the spine becomes more susceptible to devastating injuries such as fractured vertebrae, or partial or total paralysis.
These injuries can be debilitating, resulting in life-long disabilities that may make it impossible for the victim to live a normal life or provide for their family.
If you or someone you love has suffered injuries in a speeding accident, you should not hesitate to take legal action. Call LaMarca Law Group, P.C. now at (515) 705-0233 to understand your rights.
We have dedicated our lives to protecting the rights and futures of injured Iowans. We work to ensure that your case is handled while you focus on your recovery.
