Higher Speed Limits Can Cause More Crashes
While you might think that higher speed limits are a good thing — meaning fewer speeding tickets and traffic violations, road accidents at higher speed limits can lead to serious injuries. As a person drives at a higher speed they are required to have faster reaction times in order to avoid changes in traffic. Because of the need for a faster reaction time and the higher speed, a high speed accident can result in significant personal injuries and property damage.
Higher speed limits and possible accident risks
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, 32,675 lives were lost in the U.S. in 2014 to road accidents alone. It was reported more men lost their lives than women because men drive more miles than women. Also there is indication of the tendency of men to travel at a higher speed than women. Similar data reported by the Institute for Road Safety Research in its SWOV Fact Sheet, considers the relation between speed and crashes. The report affirms that “higher driving speeds lead to higher collision rate and thus a more severe injury.”
The law and higher speed limits
Car accident law encompasses the rules that determine culpability for personal and property damage in traffic accidents. Legislation relating to speed differs from state to state in the US. In Arizona, for instance, the rules set rural interstates to speed limit at 75, urban interstates at 65, and other limited access roads at 25-65 miles per hour. When accidents happen, one of the ways to determine who is responsible is the speed limit. Investigators also use the principles of negligence to prosecute speeding drivers in road accident cases.
A Phoenix personal injury lawyer can be of great assistance. The person alleging negligence has the duty of proving it and an experienced lawyer will be of help to argue your case according to the dictates of the law.
What to do following an accident
Each states has set the right speed limit to drive on its roads; it is each individual’s responsibility to know and obey that speed. When an accident does happen, the first thing to do is think safety. Pull off the road to a safe place if possible. You need to be attentive to what the other driver in the accident is doing and if possible get evidence, such as recordings, notes, photographs, and other helpful information. Do take note of everything happening and discuss the events with your lawyer. It is true that accident brings emotions and guilty feelings, but don’t blame yourself as most drivers do after a crash. Instead, let a personal injury lawyer advise you first of your rights and responsibilities.
Thanks to Alex & Associates, P.C. for their insight into med pay insurance.