Car accidents caused by speeding can leave auto accident victims with serious injuries and a stack of medical bills. If you’ve been hurt by a driver who was speeding in Gulfport, you may have a right to seek financial compensation from the at-fault driver. Call Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC at (228) 872-8752 to discuss your legal options. Our Gulfport car accident lawyers are prepared to pursue the money you need to move forward. Our law firm represents car accident victims on a contingency fee basis. We only charge a legal fee if we obtain compensation for you.
After you’ve been injured in a speeding accident in Gulfport, MS, you need an experienced car crash lawyer to lead you through the claims process and provide trusted guidance. Turn to the seasoned car accident lawyers of Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC. We’ll handle the communications with insurance companies and paperwork so you can focus on healing.
When you hire us, our legal team can:
Accidents involving vehicles traveling at high speeds are linked to more serious injuries. Speeding increases the force of impact in a collision. The faster a vehicle travels, the greater the force it imparts. The increase is exponential. Small increases in vehicle speed lead to large increases in impact force.
In addition, a speeding vehicle requires more stopping distance than one traveling at lower speeds. For example:
Finally, greater speed reduces the time a driver has to react to traffic hazards and take steps to avoid a collision. A speed driver may be unable to stop if an intersection light turns red or a pedestrian steps off the curb at a school crossing.
Mississippi law distinguishes between driving faster than the posted speed limit and driving too fast for conditions. The law specifically sets minimum and maximum speed limits. Drivers must obey the posted limits. A person who exceeds the speed limit is speeding.
Under Mississippi law, all drivers must decrease their speed when a special hazard exists on the roadway regarding pedestrians or other traffic. The law requires trucks, tractor-trailers, and passenger buses to reduce their speed to 45 mph during inclement weather when visibility is poor. Given that the law classifies inclement weather as hazardous for large vehicles, a prudent driver would drive more slowly than the posted speed limit allows in such adverse conditions. Drivers who don’t adjust their speed in adverse weather may be found at fault for driving too fast for conditions.
Twenty-nine percent of all traffic fatalities nationwide in a recent year were from crashes involving speeding. In Mississippi, 19 percent of traffic fatalities in one year were speeding-related. In addition to the lives lost in accidents, many other people suffered significant injuries.
The injuries that speed-related crashes commonly cause include:
Traumatic brain injuries can result in permanent cognitive or physical disability. Spinal cord injuries can leave an injured victim with paraplegia or quadriplegia. Crushing injuries that result in the loss of limbs can significantly alter a person’s life. A person who sustains any severe or catastrophic injury may need lifelong treatment or assistance with the activities of daily living.
Mississippi law allows people injured due to another driver’s negligence or disregard for safety to seek compensation for the harm they have suffered. In car accidents caused by speeding, the drivers who speed or drive too fast for conditions may be held civilly liable for the injuries they cause.
If the injured person contributed to the accident, any compensation a court awards them will be reduced by the percentage of fault. For example, if the injured person suffered $100,000 in compensable losses and the court finds they were 20 percent at fault, their award would be reduced to $80,000.
After a car accident, the attorney representing the accident victim and the at-fault party’s insurance company will each gather evidence to piece together the sequence of events that led to the crash. The police will make a report at the accident scene that contains their impression of how the accident occurred.
A driver may be found at fault if they failed to use reasonable care and caused harm to others. For example, a driver who fails to reduce their speed in adverse weather conditions may be found at fault.
Evidence that could help prove a speeding driver caused a crash includes images of the wrecked vehicles at the scene, measurements of skid marks, witness accounts, and physical debris. Video footage from nearby traffic cameras, dash cams, or security cameras can also be very helpful when available. Video evidence may be overwritten or lost if it is not sought promptly after the crash and preserved
Most modern cars contain an electronic control module, or black box, that records how the vehicle functions. A car crash lawyer in Gulfport can act quickly to seek access to the black box data. The data could include the car’s speed at the time of the crash, whether the driver applied the brakes, and the angle of the steering wheel at the time of the collision.
All this evidence can be used to create a narrative that shows how the accident occurred and who was at fault.
When an insurance company receives a demand letter advising them of your car accident injuries and the value of your car accident claim, they will investigate the accident. They will gather evidence and look for ways to limit their liability.
An insurance adjuster may call you shortly after the accident. They may make a settlement offer. Insurers often try to get injured people to accept quick, low-ball settlement offers before the full extent of their injuries is clear. You should have an experienced personal injury lawyer review any offer you receive before accepting it or signing anything presented by an insurance adjuster.
Although the adjuster may sound friendly and seem to care about your recovery, don’t give any statements or answer any questions until you talk with a lawyer. The adjuster’s questions will be aimed at getting answers to use to deny or minimize your claim.
Insurance companies are for-profit businesses. Insurers have teams of lawyers to handle their cases. You should have an experienced Gulfport personal injury attorney advocating for your interests.
After an accident caused by a speeding driver, you may be entitled to pursue compensation for your accident-related expenses and losses, such as:
Mississippi law allows injured people three years (3) from the date of their accident to file a personal injury lawsuit. If you miss the deadline and file your suit late, the court has the authority to dismiss your case without hearing it. It’s important to contact an attorney to start work on your case as soon as possible after a crash.
If you have been hurt in a speeding accident in Gulfport, MS, don’t delay in getting legal help. Every day of delay increases the likelihood that evidence will be lost or overwritten. You need a speeding-car-crash lawyer in Gulfport who can act quickly to gather strong evidence and fight for the fair compensation you need.
At Haug, Farrar, Franco & Ruiz, PLLC, our Gulfport car accident attorneys have recovered millions in settlements and awards for our clients since 2014. We are known for taking on the toughest personal injury cases. We always put our clients’ needs first. Here’s what one client had to say about working with our firm:
“I had a great experience with this law firm. The staff was professional, responsive, and kept me informed throughout the entire process…” – Brittany Winters
Call at (228) 872-8752 or complete our contact form today for a no-obligation consultation.
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