Speeding-related accidents continue to represent a large percentage of vehicle collisions annually. The faster a vehicle moves, the more severe the crash in terms of property damage and physical injuries. Throughout Washington, D.C., and surrounding areas, speeding violations may lead to collisions when a driver exceeds the posted limit or fails to reduce speed to address changing weather or road conditions. If you have been hurt or lost a loved one in a crash caused by a speeding driver, a seasoned Washington, DC, speeding accident lawyer can represent you as you assert your legal rights.
At Gelb & Gelb, P.C., we have helped thousands of individuals after they have suffered due to the negligent or careless acts of others. Attorney Roger Gelb’s legal accomplishments have earned him recognition as a leading Washington, D.C., attorney for injured individuals. By personally handling all cases and directly communicating with clients, Roger Gelb is prepared to explain your legal rights and protect those rights in court. Our Washington, DC, speeding accident lawyers and staff have secured more than one hundred million dollars in compensation for clients.
In Washington, D.C., in 2023, we hit a 16-year high for traffic deaths caused by speeding drivers. Of course, the dangers of speeding are clear. The faster you are going, the worse the collision will be. Consequent to speeding, we see brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, paralysis, broken bones, and worse. Safety technology in cars is as good as it has ever been and is evolving each year. However, we have yet to reach a point where airbags, reinforced steel, or seatbelts save lives 100% of the time. Thus, it is on us to anticipate negligent drivers and hold them accountable if they cause us or our family injury.
The cost of speeding has a broad impact. First, there is an economic cost—for you, first and foremost. We discuss economic damages in great detail below. Emergency treatment, ongoing care, rehabilitation, and potential surgeries are the most common monetary costs. We also consider lost wages and a loss of future earning capacity.
Then, there is a financial impact on the community. This includes emergency services, medical costs, lost productivity, and insurance premiums. It also includes emotional and social costs to the community, such as increased fear of walking or cycling and the strain on local healthcare facilities. Worse yet, if a community member is directly affected, the impact on a family can be catastrophic. Families dealing with the emotional trauma from the loss of a loved one, especially when it is due to something reckless like speeding, is one of the most challenging things a family can go through.
While frustrating for many drivers, deploying speed cameras around the District of Columbia is immensely important to protect the community against speeders. It feels like a new speed camera pops up every week. While these do not stop drivers from speeding, they act as a deterrence. Moreover, they can aid in DC car accident cases if a driver receives a speeding ticket close in time to when the driver strikes your vehicle. However, the District can take a more active approach to curb the highest fatality rates since 2007. Increased patrols can also deter speeding, particularly in high-risk areas with more speeding and car accidents. This can also be done based on time. Most speeding occurs in the late evening and the early morning. This is when the roads are clear of rush hour traffic, and drivers feel most comfortable speeding. However, this comfort is not justified.
A third thing Washington, D.C., can do to mitigate the effects of speeding is to submit public awareness campaigns. This should aim to educate drivers of the dangers of speeding, especially in an urban environment like DC. There is a threat to bicyclists and pedestrians, and this leads to wrongful death.
As DC speeding accident lawyers, we continuously push our community to drive safer. For the fourth year in a row, we have offered a scholarship to college and post-graduate students dedicated to safer driving. While road design adjustments effectively mitigate speeding accidents, they are costly. This would temporarily increase traffic substantially and cost the District an excessive amount. Instead, we propose enhanced signage and lighting. This will better inform drivers of speed limits and upcoming road conditions that require reduced speed.
To successfully recover compensation for harm suffered in a vehicle accident, most injured individuals assert that the other driver’s negligence caused the crash. Negligence is the legal term for failure to use due care as required by the circumstances. Speeding is a traffic law violation, and there are different ways that a speeding violation may lead to a crash. Some cases involve a driver accelerating above the posted limit, losing control of their vehicle, and posing a risk to others on the road.
Other speeding accidents occur when drivers fail to reduce their speed when appropriate. For example, if icy road conditions require reduced speed, and the at-fault driver continues operating their vehicle at the maximum posted limit, they fail to use due care. For example, if their conduct directly leads to a head-on collision, the driver may be liable for any damages.
Proving liability for a speeding accident requires that the victim plaintiff set forth evidence showing the defendant’s conduct led to the vehicle crash. This evidence may take the form of witness statements, property damage to the vehicle, and, if necessary, expert testimony. When asserting negligence, the victim demonstrates the defendant driver’s breach of the duty of care and that this breach relates to the accident and damages. As the final step, plaintiffs will set forth their costs. These costs include both economic and non-economic damages. They can encompass both past expenses and those the victim expects to incur in the future due to the accident. This complex litigation step requires assistance from a Washington, DC, speeding accident lawyer.
You will be entitled to compensation if we can prove damages at trial for your speeding accident. The compensation you are entitled to is directly proportionate to the damages we prove.
Economic damages that a plaintiff may recover in a personal injury claim are tangible and can be easily quantified. These damages include medical costs, lost wages, property damage, and lost earning capacity. Speeding accidents tend to result in serious injuries, and the victim may qualify for compensation that accounts for future costs of medical treatment such as physical therapy and medications. Proving future medical costs may require expert testimony, which the victim’s treating physician often provides.
Injuries suffered in speeding accidents can range from minor cuts and scrapes to catastrophic harm, including death. In most cases, car accident injuries are either impact or penetrating injuries. Impact injuries occur when the victim has struck part of the car. Penetrating injuries occur when an object enters the victim’s body. Short-term treatment may help some injuries, while others require ongoing medical care and procedures that significantly affect the victim’s life. The type and amount of compensation a victim may be entitled to is directly related to their injuries. For guidance on determining the worth of your claim, consult with a Washington, DC, speeding accident lawyer.
Non-economic damages may include emotional anguish, pain, loss of enjoyment of activities, and worsening of prior injuries. Particularly after catastrophic injuries, individuals may suffer non-economic damages. Compensation to address the loss of joy in living is likely appropriate. In some situations, injured individuals may be unable to return to activities they formerly enjoyed. This may be the case if an individual suffers a brain or spinal injury.
One important rule for all injured individuals seeking compensation through a personal injury claim is to abide by the statute of limitations. The law requires that legal claims for damages be filed within a specific period. For example, Washington, D.C., requires that claims be filed within two years from the date of the injury. After this period, the claim will typically be barred.
Our Washington, DC, speeding accident lawyers can assist you as you navigate the legal process to seek total and fair compensation from the driver who caused your speeding accident or the death of a loved one. Mr. Gelb’s experience and capability have led to his position as a forefront personal injury lawyer in the D.C. area. To schedule a free consultation, contact our office online or at (202) 331-7227. We can help you assess your next steps and provide information on your legal obligations under the specific circumstances of your car accident. Attorney Gelb helps people needing a motor vehicle collision lawyer throughout Washington, D.C.
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