Oklahoma City Speeding Accidents
When city and roadway planning agencies set local and interstate speed limits, it follows months or even years of intensive studies of the terrain and typical daily traffic flow in the area. The speed limits set for each area indicate the maximum safe speed for that section of the roadway. When drivers exceed the speed limit, they place themselves and others at risk of an accident as well as expensive traffic citations. Despite posted signs and law enforcement efforts, speeding remains one of the largest contributors to national car accident numbers. In 2022, speeding was a determining factor in 29% of all traffic accident fatalities, causing the deaths of 12,151 Americans or around 33 people per day. If you or a loved one were injured in a speeding accident in Oklahoma City, make sure to contact an experienced Oklahoma City car accident lawyer today.
Understanding the Impact of Speeding In Oklahoma Car Accidents
In an accident, the motorist’s body continues moving forward at the speed the car was traveling before the collision halts it and the seatbelt snaps them back against the seat, causing serious bodily trauma even when properly restrained. According to crash force calculations, a person weighing 130 pounds becomes a 4,550-pound force in an accident at only 35 miles per hour. If a driver travels 50 miles per hour in a 35 miles per hour traffic zone, that same person becomes a 6,500-pound force significantly increasing the trauma of an accident. The stronger the crash force, the less effective the restraining devices meant to protect motorists from injuries.
Not only does speeding increase the severity of injuries in a crash, but it also substantially escalates the chances of an accident due to the following:
- Speeding makes a vehicle more difficult to control
- Speeding lengthens stopping time and reduces reaction time
- When exceeding the speed limit for an area, drivers face a heightened risk of an accident due to terrain or traffic conditions in the area
- The faster a car’s speed, the less traction the tires have on the road
- Speeding increases the chances of a rollover in an accident, particularly in SUVs, vans, and pickup trucks
Exceeding the speed limit also contributes to a driver’s liability for damages in a car accident and may leave them 100% liable if their driving error or negligence causes the accident.
What Types of Accidents Are Caused By Speeding Drivers in Oklahoma?
Speeding significantly reduces a driver’s ability to control their vehicle, contributing to many types of accidents including the following:
- Rear-end collisions
- Roadway departures
- Head-on collisions around curves on two-lane roads
- Sideswipe accidents
- T-bone accidents in intersections
- Rollover accidents
- Pedestrian accidents
- Bicycle accidents
All accidents are frightening, but when a speeding driver causes an accident, it’s particularly distressing for injury victims knowing the accident could have been avoided or the injuries minimized if only the other driver had adhered to the speed limit and other traffic laws.
Is a Speeding Driver Liable for Damages After an Accident in Oklahoma?
Depending on the circumstances of the accident, a speeding driver could bear total liability for an accident. Or, if another driver’s negligence caused the accident, exceeding the speed limit when the accident occurred could mean that an injury victim cannot recover full compensation for their damages. Under Oklahoma §23-13, the law states the following:
“For negligence resulting in personal injuries or wrongful death, or injury to property, contributory negligence shall not bar a recovery, unless any negligence of the person so injured, damaged or killed, is of greater degree than any negligence of the person, firm or corporation causing such damage…”
Under this law, an insurance company may reduce a payout on a claim by an injury victim’s percentage of fault. Exceeding the speed limit may give an insurer cause to reduce your payout on a claim even if the other driver is at fault.
How Can an Oklahoma City Car Accident Lawyer Help?
If you were in an accident caused by a speeding driver in Oklahoma City, or an insurance company has assigned you a portion of the fault in an accident due to speeding, you need the experienced representation of an Oklahoma City car accident attorney. Call the Oklahoma City personal injury lawyers at Dan Davis Law in Oklahoma City today for an evaluation of your case. Contact us today.