2. Speeding.

Our San Diego car accident lawyers know from nearly two decades of experience that speeding drivers cause a lot of auto accidents. Nearly one-third of all car accidents can be attributed to speeding. The faster a car driver speeds, the greater the risk of an auto accident as a result — not to mention the increase in forces on the human body in a collision at high speeds. As a result, personal injuries are worse in car accidents at high speeds.

In 1999, speeding was a contributing factor in 30 percent of all fatal crashes, and 12,628 lives were lost in speeding-related crashes. The economic cost to society of speeding-related crashes is estimated by the NHTSA to be $28 billion per year. Speeding is a deliberate and calculated behavior where the driver knows the risk but ignores the danger. Fully 90 percent of all licensed drivers speed at some point in their driving career, and 75 percent admit to committing this offense regularly.

As car accident lawyers, we strongly suggest that all car drivers consider the consequences before making a regrettable decision to speed.

Excessive Speeding Is Not the Only Problem

Most people would probably agree that going 100 mph is foolishly dangerous and will very likely lead to a disastrous car accident. The problem is that exceeding the speed limit by only 5 mph in the wrong place can be just as dangerous. That is why traffic engineers as well as Federal, State and local governments have determined the maximum speeds allowable for safe travel on the nation’s roadways.

Consider this example of a pedestrian accident caused by minor or moderate levels of speeding:

A pedestrian walks out into a crosswalk with an approaching car that is traveling at 30 mph. If the driver brakes when the pedestrian is 45 feet away, there will be enough space to stop without hitting the pedestrian. Now, increase the vehicle’s speed by just 5 mph, and the situation changes dramatically. At 35 mph and the pedestrian 45 feet away, the car will be traveling at 18 mph when it hits the pedestrian. A pedestrian accident at 18 mph can cause major injuries or even wrongful death.

Three-Second Rule Can Prevent Speeding Car Accidents

To prevent speeding car accidents, drivers should observe the three-second rule, no matter what speed you’re driving. This is how the three-second rule works:

While driving, pick out a sign or pole on the side of the road.
When the car in front of you passes it, count off three seconds.
The front of your vehicle should not reach the marker before you reach three.
If you pass the marker before you reach the count of three, back off and try again.

Make sure, however, the three-second rule does not take your eyes off the road because that just sets the stage for another type of car accident.

Avoid Speeding to Prevent an Auto Accident

As car accident lawyers, we wish that more people could understand how speeding does not save them much time and only increases the danger to themselves, passengers and others. Moreover, parents are role models for their children. If a parent speeds in the presence of a parent, how does that parent expect their teenager to drive?

Maybe the answer is that more people should just leave early. If you are running late, it’s important to know that driving a few mph faster or impatiently tailgating other cars will not help. Is it truly worth causing an auto accident just to arrive at your destination a few seconds earlier?

Call Our Attorneys Now If You’ve Been Injured in an Accident

If you have been injured in a car accident that was caused by a speeding driver, call us now or click here for a FREE consultation with an experienced automobile accident attorney as to how we may help you at 1-800-655-6585. Our attorneys work on a contingency fee basis which means that you owe nothing until we recover a fair settlement on your behalf.

Our San Diego law firm has two decades of experience on its side, and our attorneys look forward to providing good advice so that you can make smart decisions about your case.

Most Recent Blog Post

[caption id="attachment_21715" align="alignleft" width="300" caption="Photo Credit: The San Diego Union Tribune"][/caption] Last week, we reported on a car accident in San Diego that resulted out of alleged teen street racing. In new developments, the 18-year-old driver charged with the death of the two teenagers involved in the street racing has pleaded not guilty to vehicular manslaughter among four other charges according to reports at the San Diego Union Tribune. The news follows the earlier arrest of another 16-year-old driver that was taken into custody on similar charges. Just shortly after his arraignment, Michael Johnson, the 18-year-old driver of a Volvo S40, said, according to his attorney, that he is not the responsible party in the tragic San Diego accident fatalities that occurred April 4. Accident reports indicate that Johnson was returning from a spring break beach party in La Jolla when he was allegedly involved in a street racing contest with another teen driver – the unidentified 16-year-old driver of a Volkswagen Passat whose name has not been released since he is a minor. According to Deputy District Attorney Kristen Spieler, the two vehicles were zigzagging across lanes at speeds reaching up to a staggering 100 m.p.h. The 16-year-old driver in the Passat lost control over the vehicle, causing the car to flip over several times across multiple lanes of the road. Two passengers, Anthony Foreman, 18, and Jayli Campbell, 16, were thrown from the Passat and died at the scene of the accident. Two passengers survived the crash. Charlotte McQuillen, survived the accident although she suffered serious injury as a result of the collision including reports that say the teen will have to recover from traumatic brain injury. Anthoney Taylor, 16, also survived the crash although his injuries are unclear at this time. Johnson did not flee the scene of the accident according to police reports and cooperated with authorities once officers assessed the scene of the collision. The teen has no prior criminal record, although authorities say his vehicle was found containing a small amount of marijuana. Johnson is being charged with intoxicated driving, although his lawyer says there were no field sobriety tests to confirm the teen’s alleged intoxication. Teen driving: reminders for concerned parents Last week, we blogged on actions parents can take to prevent teen car accidents. Tips include:

Sign a parent-teen contract. Download your free contract now.
Enforcing the rules. Every teen driver needs to know that rules are there for a purpose, and when they are broken, consequences will follow.
Have a DUI backup plan. As most parents can attest, there are many instances when teen drivers run into problems that supersede their know-how and maturity. Drinking is one of those problems. In cases of emergency, your teen should have an open-door policy where they feel safe to call you when they need help – such in the case of drunk driving or driving while intoxicated.

About the Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC The Law Offices of Michael Pines, APC are specialists in car accident injury. Every personal injury attorney in our San Diego office works hard to seek maximum recovery for every injured client. Your case is handled without any out-of-pocket costs, so do not hesitate to speak to a San Diego personal injury lawyer today for a free legal evaluation. Call us at 1-800-655-6585.