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Personal Injury

Rhode Island Speeding Law Violations

June 8, 2018

Updated: September 18, 2020

Rhode Island Speeding law violations car accident lawyer

Many people drive over the speed limit and risk accident and injury to the drivers around them, and themselves. Although speeding can seem harmless, it can cause serious injury and damage in the event of a crash. If you were in a car accident where someone violated a Rhode Island speeding law, you may be entitled to compensation.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were 35,092 traffic fatalities in 2015 and 27% of those were in crashes where at least one driver was speeding. That is to say that speeding is a factor in a number of very serious and fatal car accidents, and you may be entitled to compensation for injuries sustained from a car crash where speeding was a factor.

 

Speeding Can Increase Risk of Injury

Speed limits are posted with the intention of keeping people safe on the road. If they are not adhered to, drivers risk causing an accident or being issued a speeding ticket. When a driver speeds, it becomes more difficult for them to slow down if they approach slowing traffic or a pedestrian. Speeding also increases the risk of causing serious injury to other drivers and yourself in the event of an accident.  Higher speed accidents involve more force, and as a result, often more traumatic injuries.

Speeding also reduces the amount of reaction time a driver has to make crucial decisions and react to sudden changes on the road.

Speed limits are set as a maximum safe speed under ideal conditions. If conditions are not ideal, such as if there is snow or ice on the roadway, speeding can be increasingly dangerous as drivers are at a higher risk of losing control of their vehicle.

 

Compensation for Injuries Caused By a Speeding Accident

Accidents where one party was violating a Rhode Island speeding law can result in serious injuries, and sometimes fatalities. Common injuries can include Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and spinal injuries. A violation of traffic laws, including speeding, can be used as evidence of negligence in car accident litigation, meaning if a person was speeding and caused an accident, an attorney could use that finding to argue that the driver was being negligent. Proving negligence is especially important in car accident litigation because a party cannot be held liable for damages for an accident unless they are proven to have acted negligently. If a party is speeding and causes an accident, you must also prove that their negligence is responsible for your injuries.

If the speeding driver is found to be at fault in the accident and to be responsible for your injuries, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries sustained in the accident. The other party’s insurance company could then be responsible for paying your medical bills for your injuries, and for loss of earning capacity and loss of income.

 

If you were in an accident where the other driver violated a Rhode Island speeding law, our experienced car accident attorneys may be able to recover compensation for your injuries. Call our office today at 401 331 6300 for a free consultation.