The Connection Between Speeding and Fatal Accidents

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A wide range of driving behaviors and road conditions can lead to fatal accidents. However, few behaviors are as closely tied to fatal crashes as speeding. There’s a large body of research linking speeding to fatal accidents, and unfortunately, each year proves that research to be true.

If you or someone you love has been hurt in a speed-related accident, you could be entitled to compensation. Find out now by calling Mann & Potter at 205-879-9661.

Speeding—the Most Common Form of Reckless Driving

There are many behaviors that are considered reckless driving: driving while impaired, driving while distracted, drag racing, and any other activity that displays willful disregard for other people’s safety.

Speeding, though, is something that almost everyone does sometimes. Even the safest drivers find themselves driving five to ten over when they’re running late. However, speed limits exist for a reason. Research indicates that the given speed limit is the safest option for that road and its conditions. Driving above the speed limit—or even below the speed limit in certain weather conditions—is reckless.

That’s why it’s so alarming that speeding is closely connected to fatal crashes. Since almost everyone speeds at least some of the time, there are likely far more fatal crashes than there ever should be.

Speeding Leads to More Severe Crashes

The Federal Highway Administration has conducted research on speeding and fatal car accidents. Their basic explanation is that the faster two cars are driving when they collide, the higher the collision speed is. This is true even for single-car crashes, as a single car driving at a higher speed will cause much more damage than a slower car when it strikes an obstacle.

Speeding gives drivers less time to react to obstacles in the road, a sudden slowdown in traffic, or someone cutting them off. This increases the overall accident rate, and the higher speeds increase the damage of the crash itself. They note that speed, while not the only factor in collisions, is definitely one of the most easily controlled. They estimate that roughly one-third of fatal collisions are completely or partially caused by speeding, even if speeding isn’t listed as the cause of the crash in the official report.

Other agencies have noticed this troubling trend and weighed in. The NSC has looked into the correlation between higher fatal accident rates and higher rates of speeding. Per official reports, 29% of traffic fatalities in 2020 were caused in part or in whole by speeding. That’s over 11,000 lives that could have potentially been saved had drivers chosen to slow down. While speeding-related deaths had been trending downward, that trend reversed in 2020 and speeding-related fatalities are now on the rise.

It’s important to note that this trend does not affect all demographic groups equally, perhaps due to differences in driving habits and preferences. The ratio of speed-related collisions to fatal collisions decreased with each jump in the age demographic, indicating that younger drivers’ tendency to speed and drag race is a serious risk factor. Furthermore, female drivers are far less likely to cause a speed-related crash. The group showing the greatest risk for speeding-related fatal accidents is male drivers between the ages of 15 and 24.

The correlation between speeding and fatal crashes is also different across weather conditions. The correlation is lowest on dry roads and highest on roads with moving or standing water. The accident rate is also higher than average on roads with mud, dirt, gravel, ice, or frost.

Drivers who caused speeding-related fatal accidents to follow another trend. Speeding and being under the influence of alcohol are closely linked, and those who are impaired are more likely to speed than sober drivers. Drivers between the ages of 21 and 54 are the most affected by this troubling trend.

Get the Support You Deserve: Call Mann & Potter Now

Speeding-related crashes are far too common and often cause devastating injuries. If you’ve been hurt by a speeding driver, we’re here to help. Schedule a consultation with Mann & Potter now by calling us at 205-879-9661 or filling out our online contact form. We’ll help you fight for the compensation you deserve.

Accidents May Be Caused by Road Defects

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Municipalities have an obligation to their residents to keep roadways safe, easy to navigate, and free of obstructions. Unfortunately, as anyone who has ever driven will tell you, that just isn’t how it happens. When the weather doesn’t cooperate or the county budget doesn’t stretch as far as it needs to, roads can fall into disrepair. This puts drivers and passengers at risk of preventable accidents.

There are several ways that city planners and municipal leaders may fail at road design and maintenance.

Complex Intersections

Intersections should be easy to understand and identify from a distance and up close. If drivers and motorcyclists have to stop prior to the intersection to understand how to navigate it, the road is defective. Complicated intersections can leave people turning from or into the incorrect lane, missing walkways, and not seeing important signage.

Obscured Walkways

Walkways protect pedestrians and help drivers prevent accidents. When walkways are difficult to see or poorly marked, pedestrians, motorcyclists, and drivers all suffer. Even if a motorcyclist can avoid a crash by hitting the brakes or swerving, they run the risk of getting involved in another accident.

Signs Blocked by Trees and Other Obstacles

Landscaping is a surprisingly important part of road safety and maintenance. Even the most carefully planned road can become impassable when trees and shrubs start blocking important signs.

Additionally, overgrown trees and bushes can make it difficult to see vehicles approaching from other directions. This puts motorcyclists in the position of having to make blind turns and hope for the best, which is obviously a dangerous option. Again, this is something that tends to fall to the bottom of the priority list in an overworked municipality or a municipality with more needs than money.

Roads Damaged by Weather

Roads need frequent maintenance and upkeep to be safe for drivers. While roadway defects can cause accidents for anyone, people in cars are far more likely to walk away from these accidents with minimal or no injuries. The design of a motorcycle automatically puts bikers at greater risk of injuries when they hit an uneven or unsteady roadway. If roads aren’t maintained after seasons of heavy rain, snow, or wind, they are bound to become uneven and difficult to navigate.

What You Should Do After an Auto Accident Caused by Road Defects

If you’re involved in an accident that’s caused by a road defect, you may wonder what comes next. Crashes where one driver is at fault are easier to handle, as you only have to negotiate with their insurance. However, claims against the government are inherently more time-consuming and challenging.

You generally have to go through a slightly different process, alert the appropriate parties that you plan on filing a case against them, and then do so—all on a tighter time frame. Personal injury claims against the government typically have a much shorter statute of limitations than claims against private parties, so delaying at all in your claim could be a huge mistake. Waiting too long could mean giving up your right to sue and losing your chance at fair and full compensation.

When you suspect that the government is liable for an accident, talk to an attorney as soon as possible.

Contact Mann & Potter to Start Your Claim Now

Have you been injured in a vehicle accident? Act quickly to preserve the evidence and hold the right party accountable. Take the first step now by calling Mann & Potter at 205-879-9661 or filling out our online contact form. We’re here to help you.

Back to School: Avoiding Accidents with School Buses

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Summer has come to a close and Fall is now in full swing. This means that millions of kids in Alabama and throughout the country are back in school. We all want our kids to learn and succeed in school, and this starts with creating an environment where they can get to and from school safely.

School buses are the most common way Alabama children travel to and from school. There are more than 8,200 buses that service school districts throughout the state, and more than 375,000 kids ride them each day.

Buses are a relatively safe way for school kids to travel. According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA), children are 70 times more likely to arrive at school safely when traveling by bus rather than traveling by car. In addition, school bus fatalities account for less than 1% of all traffic related fatalities each year.

Although school buses are safer than most other modes of transportation, accidents still happen from time to time. Oftentimes, the risk is not so much that a child riding inside the bus will be hurt, but more so that they might get hurt when they are outside the bus. There is also the risk of serious injury to other motorists who collide with school buses, like what happened to the 17-year old high school student who was severely injured and later died when his car crashed into a school bus in August near Phenix City, AL.

If we all do our part, tragedies like these can be prevented, and we can help ensure that our kids have a safe and successful school year. Toward that end, here are five things that we as drivers can do to avoid accidents with school buses:

  1. Avoid Distracted Driving

The morning and evening rush hours can be hectic times of the day to drive. Drivers are often stuck in heavy traffic and in a hurry to get to work. On top of that, you may be trying to finish your morning coffee while you drive and respond to the latest text from your boss or coworker who needs something. This, unfortunately, is the world we live in. But that is no excuse to drive unsafely and put yourself and others in danger. 

Always give yourself plenty of time to get to work in the morning, and do not respond to texts and other electronic notifications from your cellphone. Most of these messages can wait, and if there is something you absolutely need to respond to, pull over in a safe spot and put your car in park first before sending your response.

  • Watch for Children Walking and Biking to School

Not all school kids ride the bus. Some who live closer to their school choose to walk or ride their bikes. From the moment you back out of your driveway, you need to be on the lookout for young pedestrians and bicyclists. This is especially true when you are driving through school zones.

  • Watch for Children Approaching Bus Stops

Along the same lines as the previous point, when you are driving near a bus stop, watch out for kids who are walking to the stop or already there waiting for the bus. Children are unpredictable, especially younger children, and you never know when a child will dash across the street trying to catch the bus or when they end up on the streets while just playing around with friends.

  • Drive Slowly when you are Behind a School Bus

You need drive slowly not only when there are kids nearby walking or riding their bikes, but also when you end up behind a school bus. Buses slow down and stop frequently to pick up and drop off kids, and they are also required to come to a complete stop at railroad crossings.  Proceed with caution when you are behind a bus, and always give them plenty of room to complete their stops safely.

  • Always Obey Alabama School Bus Laws

In most cases, you are not allowed to pass a stopped school or church bus in Alabama. If you are behind either type of bus or approaching it from the other direction, you are required to stop as soon as the bus raises its signal arm and remain stopped until the signal arm is lowered.  The only exception to this rule is when you are approaching a bus from the other direction on a divided four or six lane highway that contains a barrier or unpaved area which divides the directional lanes.

The state of Alabama does not look kindly on drivers who disobey school bus laws. Penalties for passing a school bus illegally start at $150 to $300 along with points on your driving record and higher insurance rates for a first offense. Multiple offenders face higher fines, loss of driving privileges, community service requirements, and other consequences. Many school districts have installed stop-arm cameras to catch offenders, so it is never a good idea to take a chance and disobey these rules.

Injured in a School Bus Accident in Alabama? Contact a Seasoned Vehicle Accident Lawyer

Even if you do your best to drive safely, bus accidents can still happen because of the negligent actions or omissions of other parties. If you or a loved one suffered injury in an auto accident in Alabama that was someone else’s fault, you need strong legal counsel by your side advocating forcefully for your rights and interests.

To schedule a free consultation and case assessment with one of the experienced attorneys at Mann & Potter, call us today at 205-879-9661, message us online, or stop by our Birmingham office at your convenience.