According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding is one of the major factors leading to car accidents, deaths, and injuries. According to one estimate, the cost of these accidents result in over $40 billion dollars in medical expenses, lost wages, and rehabilitation costs in the U.S. every year. Since 2003, speeding has accounted for over 30% of traffic-related fatalities.
Sometimes it isn’t just speeding alone that leads to an accident. In some cases, alcohol is involved in speeding-involved accidents.
In Minnesota, almost 400 people died in traffic fatalities in 2012. Speeding has been found to be one of the leading causes of accidents on Minnesota roads. Speed reduction has been known to increase a driver’s ability to control his or her vehicle and allow the driver to react properly and promptly to changing road conditions. Additionally, by driving at lower speeds, drivers reduce the severity of an impact if a car accident occurs.
In order to promote driving safety and increase awareness of the dangers of speeding, the Minnesota State Patrol has launched a recent campaign to crack down on speeding drivers. According to CBS Minnesota, over the next few weekends in July, over 300 Minnesota law enforcement agencies will be patrolling highways to stop speeding drivers. The summer months take a huge toll on drivers in terms of car accidents and injuries. As many as 79 individuals suffer injuries as a result of speeding-related crashes in Minnesota during the summer.
The Minnesota State Patrol crackdown is part of a larger initiative called the “Speak Up About Slowing Down” campaign. Authorities are urging passengers to tell drivers to obey speed limits. Many drivers who speed believe that they are better than average drivers, but the reality is that their speeding makes it more likely that they will be involved in an accident.
Speeding has many consequences. On a practical and financial level, for every five miles per hour above a 60 mile per hour speed limit, drivers pay almost an additional 25 cents for each gallon of gas.
These extra expenses don’t really result in time savings. Drivers who exceeded the posted speed limit by five or ten miles per hour only arrived at their destinations around five to ten minutes sooner. Speeding has other serious costs as well. If the person is caught speeding, a speeding ticket can increase a driver’s insurance rates. It simply doesn’t pay to speed. If you are landed with any form of traffic ticket that you wish to contest in the state of Texas, you may want to reach out so someone like a traffic ticket lawyer in denton tx to help reverse any charges.
When drivers exceed the speed limit, they are more likely to get into accidents. This can be costly to other drivers on the road who obey the law. Victims of drivers who speed may suffer life-altering injuries, may require years of additional medical care, and may experience immense pain and suffering.
Victims of speed-related accidents have the right to seek compensation from negligent and reckless drivers. Speeding accidents sometimes leave victims and their families devastated emotionally and financially. The Law Office of Martin T. Montilino is a personal injury lawyer who works closely with car accident victims in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Contact the firm today to learn more about how you can seek justice following an accident.