When drivers exceed the posted speed limit, they don't allow themselves enough time and distance to react to obstacles in the road. Moreover, the greater the speed, the more likely a crash will be severe when it happens. For that reason, excessive speeding tends to be a common factor in serious and fatal crashes. In 2018, it accounted for nine percent of all statewide collisions and 20 percent of all traffic fatalities.
Police warn of an uptick in excessive speeding on Indiana roadways
According to WANE 15, Indiana State Police issued nearly 1,800 speeding tickets for drivers traveling at more than 100 mph within the last year. The majority of speeding tickets were issued on Hoosier highways, with 134 by state police stationed in Fort Wayne. In addition, 882 Indiana drivers were charged with a misdemeanor for reckless driving, 46 of which were in Fort Wayne.
Sgt. Brian Walker, Public Information Officer, told WANE 15 that these numbers are only the tip of the iceberg.
“That percentage may seem small but it’s just for the Fort Wayne post and just for the State Police,” said Walker. “That doesn’t include all of the other departments around the state that are also observing the same violations and taking action as well.”
Walker points out that since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in March, there was a significant drop in traffic congestion. This may have opened the door for reckless drivers to travel at dangerous speeds and may be responsible for the rise in excessive speeding from the same period in 2019.
Walker warns that as things begin to transition back to "normal," we may see an upsurge in crashes.
“As the road conditions start to become more congested, people will still drive the same way and that creates even more risk because now we’ve got more drivers on the roadway and we’ve still got people that are driving at unacceptable rates of speed,” said Walker.
Common crashes and injuries caused by excessive speeding
There are many ways excessive speeding can result in serious and fatal crashes. Here are some examples:
- T-bone crashes. The speeding driver who hit you may have run a red light or stop sign at an intersection. When a T-bone crash occurs, the other driver hits your car from the side. These crashes tend to result in severe injuries since there is very little protection between you and a side door.
- Rear-end collisions. Drivers who speed often cause high-speed rear-end collisions at signalized intersections or when highway traffic slows down or comes to a halt.
- Head-on collisions. Speeding often results in head-on collisions, especially on roads with sharp or frequent curves. These crashes tend to be the most catastrophic due to the combined speed of two cars colliding.
- Weather-related crashes. We can't always blame the weather or slick roads when a crash occurs, but we can blame drivers who fail to use caution.
Speed-related crashes often result in serious injuries such as:
- Broken bones
- Traumatic brain injury
- Neck, back and spine injuries
- Crushed limbs
- Damage to internal organs
- Lacerations, bruises, and contusions
- Nerve damage
- Paralysis
- Death
Contact our Indiana car accident lawyers to demand justice
If you were hurt in a speed-related crash, your injuries may have been severe enough to require an immediate trip to the emergency room. You may need months of physical therapy and medical treatment while you’re out of work and unable to earn a paycheck. In addition, you may be enduring pain and suffering and loss of enjoyment of life as a result of your injury and financial situation.
If you think the other driver’s insurance company will readily compensate you, think again. Insurance companies have an incentive to pay you as little as possible and they will use their bag of tricks to downplay your claim. It's critical that you see a doctor and get an official diagnosis for your injuries. Then, speak to the experienced Indiana car accident lawyers at Boughter Sinak, LLC to discuss your next steps. We’ll leave no stone unturned when gathering the facts to help you build a strong case.
While the other driver's insurance company will try to shift the blame, an in-depth investigation will tell the real story. The details pertaining to your crash will be documented in the official police report. Our attorneys can get a copy of your report and use it as a basis to conduct a much broader investigation. We may also find that the driver who hit you was distracted or impaired at the time of the crash. Witnesses may have also seen the driver behaving erratically.
With law offices based in Fort Wayne and South Bend, our legal team is committed to getting the best possible outcome for our clients. To schedule your free case evaluation, contact us online or call us.