Speeding is one of the top causes of car accidents. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding-related crashes cause approximately 10,000 deaths each year nationwide, along with hundreds of thousands of injuries.

“Speeding” is a category that encompasses two different types of behavior. The first is driving at a rate higher than the posted speed limit on a particular stretch of road. The second is driving at a rate too high for safe control of the vehicle given the condition of the roadway. During nighttime, when the weather is rainy, foggy, or snowy, or when the pavement is in poor condition or compromised by a substance like gravel or oil, a driver may be “speeding” even if they are driving below the posted speed limit, if the car is going too fast to control or stop safely.

Either type of speeding can result in a serious accident. While NHTSA statistics indicate that male drivers between the ages of 17 and 24 are the most likely to suffer fatal injury in a speeding related crash, speed can cause serious injuries or death to anyone at any age. Speeding is more likely to cause death when the roadway is wet, snowy, or icy, according to the NHTSA.

Alcohol is also a major factor in many speeding-related crashes, according to the NHTSA. In 2012, for instance, 42 percent of speeding drivers who caused accidents had a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) above the legal limit of 0.08 percent. By contrast, only 16 percent of drivers who were not speeding when an accident occurred had a BAC above 0.08 percent.

Speeding often results from negligence, and it can be a major cause of accidents.

If You’ve Been Injured By A Speeding Driver, An Experienced Birmingham Car Accident Attorney Can Help You Seek The Compensation You Need And Deserve.