Dallas Traffic Accidents Caused by Speeding

Dallas Traffic Accidents Caused by Speeding

According to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT), speeding is the leading cause of car accidents. This is hardly surprising given that the majority of Texas drivers, including in Dallas, admit to driving in excess of the legal speed limit on a regular basis. Unfortunately, most speeding motorists are more concerned with the possibility of receiving a speeding ticket and having to attend a defensive driving class than the very real hazard they pose both to their own safety and to that of their passengers and other road users.

As a Dallas personal injury attorney, I know only too well the devastating effects of a multi-vehicle crash caused by excessive speeding. Aside from the enormous property damage to all cars involved, there will also likely be severe bodily injuries. Speed-related collisions frequently result in extremely serious injuries including broken bones, amputation, blunt force trauma, spinal injuries and even death. Fatalities caused by people driving too fast are not uncommon. In 2009 alone, 1,228 people were killed in Texas speed-related traffic wrecks according to the US Census Bureau. This is more than one third of all traffic fatalities in the state that year.

Hydroplaning as a Result of Speeding in the Rain

Speeding on wet roads further increases the chance of a serious accident occurring. Any oil which is on the road floats to the surface of the water, making the roadway extremely slippery. This is particularly common when it rains heavily after an extended period of dry weather – something not uncommon in North Texas. Rain-saturated roads and excessive speed is a dangerous combination which can lead to hydroplaning, which effectively involves the driver to lose control of their vehicle as it spins across traffic - ending in a wreck. The insurance company of the negligent motorist cannot blame poor weather conditions in whole or part for the accident occurring. If the driver was driving recklessly then they are considered entirely at fault, regardless of whether or not it was raining.

Speeding Trucks

Despite the fact that they are supposed to be professional drivers who should know better, commercial truck drivers often violate speed laws. Based on the average driver’s combined perception and reaction time being 1.5 seconds, and the average truck’s stopping time being 4.5 seconds, it will take a total of six seconds for a tractor trailer to come to a complete stop in an emergency. This means that, on average, it will take an 18 wheeler truck approximately 484 feet to come to a complete stop when traveling at 55 miles per hour. If the trucker was speeding, then the stopping distance is increased significantly. At 70 mph, for example, it would take 616 feet to come to a complete stop. Given that legal weight limit for a semi-truck in the US is 80,000 lbs, you can imagine the damage which can be caused.

If you have been injured in a Dallas car wreck caused by a negligent motorist who was speeding, you should not hesitate to call an experienced Dallas personal injury lawyer. Call us today, toll free at 877-290-1382.