Chicago Speeding Car Accident Attorneys

Speeding or driving too fast is a common cause of injury-related auto accidents in the Chicago area. Not only does driving at an increased speed take longer to stop the vehicle, coming to complete stop requires more distance on the road and makes the vehicle harder to control. When motorists choose to accelerate beyond the posted speed limit, the impact from the collision is typically far more forceful and serious injuries or fatalities result.

If you or a family member was involved in an accident with a speeding vehicle, contact the Chicago car accident attorneys at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC for a free consultation regarding your legal rights and options. Our legal team is committed to protecting the legal rights of car accident victims.

Illinois Law Applicable to Driving Speeds

We all know that there are limitations to the speed we are allowed to drive. The speed limit is posted on every road and highway across the U.S. These enforced speed limit laws were enacted to ensure safe driving conditions and reduce the number of physical injuries sustained in collisions. The State of Illinois has codified the law below related to driving speeds.

(625 ILCS 5/11-601)(from Ch. 95 1/2, par. 11-601)     Sec. 11-601. General speed restrictions.     (a) No vehicle may be driven upon any highway of this State at a speed which is greater than is reasonable and proper with regard to traffic conditions and the use of the highway, or endangers the safety of any person or property. The fact that the speed of a vehicle does not exceed the applicable maximum speed limit does not relieve the driver from the duty to decrease speed when approaching and crossing an intersection, approaching and going around a curve, when approaching a hill crest, when traveling upon any narrow or winding roadway, or when special hazard exists with respect to pedestrians or other traffic or by reason of weather or highway conditions. Speed must be decreased as may be necessary to avoid colliding with any person or vehicle on or entering the highway in compliance with legal requirements and the duty of all persons to use due care.

According to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), 32% of fatal auto accidents are caused by excessive speed or speed-related. There also seems to be a correlation between speeding and alcohol consumption. In 2002, 41% of drunk driving cases were also speed-related versus only 14% of sober auto accident fatalities. Data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration suggests, speeding is involved in more weekend and nighttime fatal auto accident cases than any other time of the day or week.

Boys, Speed, and Inexperience Don't Mix

By far, the highest demographic in fatalities involving driving too fast are younger drivers, especially males. Statistics reveal that males ages 15-24 years old were speeding in over 35% of all driving fatalities in 2008 in America. Older males between 35 and 44 years of age were speeding in 25% of all fatal crashes followed by 20% of males from 45 to 54 years old. Females of all ages are much less likely to cause speed-related fatalities than males of the same age.

The Cost Of Speed That Leads to Injuries in Vehicle Accidents

Not only does driving too fast contribute to 31% of all traffic crash fatalities, but it also a significant financial impact on society. The total economic cost in 2000 for speed-related crashes was estimated to be $230.6 billion in the United States. However, the cost of compensating victims with a catastrophic injury caused by someone driving too fast is significant.

Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit to Recover Compensation for Serious Injuries or Death in Chicago Car Accident Involving Speeding

Many of these expenses related to a speed-related crash can be recovered in a car accident lawsuit against the at-fault party. The accident lawyers at Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC have experience handling speed-related auto injury cases across Illinois. From the time we are retained by a client, we begin assembling important evidence to help ensure we can obtain full and fair compensation for the injured party.

In most speed-related crashes, we obtain the following materials:

 
• Police reports and other documents generated by law enforcement
 
• Photographs of vehicles involved and the accident scene
 
• Medical bills for past care and anticipated future medical expenses
 
• Liability insurance from the responsible party
 
• Medical records documenting medical treatment
 
• Cell phone records from the negligent driver

The majority of our car accident cases, we are successful in resolving the matter out-of-court via negotiations with the negligent driver's insurance company. However, if we are unable to obtain a settlement for fair compensation, our car accident lawyer will file a lawsuit to recover damages.

Chicago Car Accident Attorneys Representing Victims Seriously Injured by Speeding Drivers

If you are the victim of a vehicular injury accident involving a motorist who was driving too fast or speeding, you deserve to be financially compensated for your losses. At Rosenfeld Injury Lawyers LLC, our accident attorneys understand the law and how speeding can impact the lives of our clients' injured in a collision caused by a speeding car. Our goal is to take every step possible to smoothly guide you through the legal process.

We will fight aggressively on your behalf to obtain the financial damages you are entitled to for your injuries and other losses. We invite you to contact our Chicago car accident lawyers for a free consultation to discuss your case. There is never any obligation and we only charge a fee after we have secured a financial award for you.

Learn more about how speed impacts many of the most serious auto accidents:

 
• http://www.isp.state.il.us/traffic/speedlimitenf.cfm
 
• http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810996.pdf
 
• http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811166.PDF
 
• http://www.ilga.gov/legislation/ilcs/ilcs4.asp?DocName=062500050HCh.+11+Art.+VI&ActID=1815&ChapterID=49&SeqStart=111100000&SeqEnd=112600000