High-Speed Crashes Take Lives
No one could have imagined the tragedy of a Thursday afternoon in Los Angeles County. That is when a Mercedes careened through a red light and slammed into cross traffic, resulting in the ejection of multiple people and two vehicles consumed by flames. The incident resulted in five fatalities on the scene, along with eight people who were sent to local hospitals with a range of injuries. The driver of the Mercedes suffered only minor injuries but is now facing charges of vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. It is little comfort to the families of those who died or were injured.
Speeding in America
Every day, people across this country break speed limits that are posted for everyone’s safety. In fact, more than four out of five drivers say they enjoy driving fast. While nine in ten drivers say people should obey speed limits, about one-third of drivers have been stopped for speeding at some time, and 70% say they sometimes speed, especially on highways. Many never think about the potential consequences of surpassing speed limits. But they should:
- Over 8,000 people lost their lives in collisions caused by speeding in 2021 alone;
- Nearly 30% of fatal collisions are a result of speeding;
- The chances of a collision increase by 300% when drivers exceed posted speed limits;
- Passenger cars are involved in more than three-fourths of fatal crashes involving speeding;
- Police report that the biggest complaint by citizens is speeding in residential neighborhoods;
- The majority of people who speed in residential areas live in those areas;
- The risk of collisions, and of injuries and fatalities, increases as speeds increase;
- Nearly one-third of fatal crashes involve speeding as a factor in the collision;
- More than half of fatal crashes are specifically caused by exceeding posted limits;
- Only about 10% of fatal crashes occur on interstate highways.
Crisis Moment
According to Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg, America is facing a crisis on our roadways. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports over a 10% increase in traffic fatalities from 2020 to 2021. While multiple factors certainly factor into these statistics, speeding is without question a major contributor to the fatality rate. Fatality rates have gone up on urban and rural roads, and involve multiple vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists, and large trucks.
The Aftermath of Collisions
The statistics really do not do justice to the families of those impacted in serious and fatal collisions. Every death represents a family who was left reeling with the news that a loved one will not be coming home. So many mothers, fathers, grandparents, siblings, and children have been lost due to the reckless decision to speed beyond posted limits. If you have lost a loved one in these circumstances, you may be entitled to damages to cover medical costs, funeral costs, lost wages, and more. While you may not feel the energy to pursue these damages, it could make a huge difference in your future. So, while you address the emotional loss, let the compassionate, experienced personal injury attorneys at Gibbs & Fuerst take care of the rest. Schedule a confidential consultation with the Temecula Personal Injury Attorneys at Gibbs & Fuerst today.