Injury LawStars understands the impacts of high-risk speeding behaviors. After years of serving as specialists in injury law, we demonstrate our commitment through legal representation, education, and protecting community members from preventable accidents. Speeding is one of the highest risks on the road because it can cause serious accidents and substantial legal developments.

Injury LawStars is a reliable legal advocate for victims of speeding accidents. Our experience with the causes of car accidents helps provide victims with the just compensation they deserve. Speeding continues to be a persistent problem on our roads, so understanding its legal ramifications and the role of experienced personal injury lawyers becomes necessary. Let’s explore why speeding is so dangerous, debunk common myths about speeding, and inform victims how Injury LawStars aids those affected by high-risk driving behavior.

Speeding: Consequences and Its Impact on Road Safety

Speed limits are used to prevent accidents. Speeding limits are determined based on road design, traffic patterns, local laws, and potential hazards. Speed limits establish a safe operating speed that allows drivers to control their vehicles, react to unexpected hazards, and avoid crashes.

If drivers drive above designated speed limits, they compromise their ability to react to the evolving conditions of the road. The time required to perceive a hazard, process it, and execute a response will be reduced. Limited reaction times can cause devastating accidents when drivers cannot avoid colliding with a hazard. 

Speeding increases the likelihood of accidents and worsens their severity. Speeding often does the following: 

• Significantly intensifies accident force
• Causes more extensive property damage
• Increases the risk of severe injuries
• Heightens the probability of fatalities
• Encourages others to speed and implore risky driving behaviors
• Increases rollover accidents
• Reduces vehicle control
• Extends braking distances
• Diminishes reaction time
• Raises collision risks 
• Compromises vehicle safety features

Speeding accidents caused 12,151 fatalities in 2022. Speed limits are used to prevent these types of fatalities. If you or a loved one was injured by a speeding driver, sit down with Injury LawStars for a free consultation today. 

Legal Consequences of Speeding, Including Fines, License Suspension, and Criminal Charges

Speeding a few miles per hour over the legal limit could lead to a speeding ticket and a fine. Excessive speeding, however, can result in harsher penalties, fines, or even jail time.  Law enforcement agencies enforce speed limits to deter drivers from engaging in risky driving behaviors but accidents still occur. 

Florida’s speeding laws use several levels of penalties that punish speeders. However, these levels can confuse drivers as they try to understand which laws apply to their accidents. Here’s a general guideline on Florida’s speeding penalties.  

• Driving less than 30 miles per hour over the speed limit is a noncriminal traffic infraction. 
• Driving 30 or more miles over the speed limit in Florida is a traffic misdemeanor. 
• Driving 50 or more miles over the speed limit is a felony traffic violation. 
• A first conviction for speeding more than 50 MPH over the speed limit will result in a fine of $1,000. 
• A second conviction will cause you to lose your license for one year, and your fine will be $2,500. 
• A third offense and you could be charged with a third-degree felony, serve up to 5 years in prison, up to 5 years of probation, up to $5,000 in fines, and your license can be suspended for up to 10 years.

Excessive speeding could also be a felony for first-time offenders if charged under Florida’s reckless driving statutes, and injuries occur because of the speeding violation. For each driving violation you have, demerit points will be added to your driving record. Multiple traffic infractions may result in a driver’s license suspension. Florida accident professionals recommend hiring a lawyer to protect your driving record from harsh penalties.

Changes in Traffic Laws and Regulations Related To Speeding

Florida’s New Move-Over Law Changes require you to Move Over a lane for stopped law enforcement, emergency vehicles, sanitation, utility service vehicles, tow trucks or wreckers, maintenance or construction vehicles displaying warning lights, and any disabled vehicle on the side of the road. The law stipulates that if you can’t move over, slow down significantly from the posted speed limit. Injury LawStars helps clients understand how the law affects their case. 

Florida Statute of Limitations for A Speeding Accident

Lawsuits over injuries suffered in a traffic accident must be filed within two years of the crash, according to Florida Statutes section 95.11(4)(a). This two-year statute also applies if someone wrongfully dies as a result of an accident. A four-year filing statute applies to any lawsuit you want to file over the property damages you’ve suffered because of the accident. Sit down and discuss the laws pertaining to your case with Injury LawStars in a free consultation right away. 

Why Do Florida Drivers Speed?

Speeding is one of the most common types of aggressive driving. Speeding is often caused by the following:

• Traffic congestion 
• Running late and tardiness
• Anonymity and insolation that vehicles provide
• Reckless disregard for others and the law

Speeding Consequences

The following consequences of speeding could affect all areas of your life:

• Increased potential for loss of vehicle control
• Reduced effectiveness of safety equipment
• Increased stopping distance
• Increased crash severity leading to more severe injuries
• Financial implications 
• Increased fuel cost 

The Role of Personal Injury Lawyers in Cases Involving Accidents Caused by Speeding

A personal injury lawyer’s duty is to establish liability in a speeding car accident by proving which driver was at fault for going over the legal limit and causing the accident. Our legal team can request police records, consult with first responders at the accident scene, and interview witnesses to investigate your accident.

A Injury LawStars personal injury attorney can calculate the economic and non-economic damages you’ve incurred because of your medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Our lawyers give our clients the tools to help maximize the amount of damages they are entitled to.

How Injury LawStars Can Assist Victims of Speeding-Related Accidents 

The legal team at Injury LawStars will negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf. Since insurance companies are large, profitable businesses with lawyers on the payroll, they typically fight just claims by offering low settlement offers and disputing clients claims. Our seasoned legal representatives will use their law skills to prove their client’s eligibility for damages and negotiate for the maximum settlement available under Florida law.

Since most personal injury lawsuits in Florida are settled out of court, our team can advocate for a decisive outcome. If your personal injury case goes to trial, our lawyers can represent you in court and present your case with the most sound strategy possible. 

How Much Does a Personal Injury Lawsuit Cost?

Many Florida personal injury lawyers work on a contingency fee basis, which means you don’t have to pay them until you’ve received compensation for your claim. Your legal representative takes their fee from an agreed-upon percentage of your settlement amount. Speeding can cause extensive injuries, property damages, or even fatalities. If you have been involved in a severe car accident caused by a speeding driver, call Injury LawStars today for a consultation.

Tips for Staying Safe on the Road and Avoiding Speeding

Many speeding accidents are preventable because speeding is a matter of choice. Believing that speeding isn’t so dangerous, or that the laws don’t apply to you when you’re in a hurry, could be a fallacy that leads to horrendous accident injuries. Practicing defensive driving, using the following tips, could help to curtail some of your speeding: 

• Give yourself time to get where you’re going
• Always consider traffic, rush hour, and the weather when planning your route
• Use vehicle features like cruise control and the speed limiter to regain control over speeding habits
• Always be on the lookout for speeding limit changes and potential hazards
• Check your speedometer regularly to ensure compliance
• Move over to the right lane if you feel encouraged to speed by other drivers
• Always consider the consequences of speeding tickets and accidents

Speeding behavior can also affect other drivers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and other travelers. Here are some tips for avoiding accidents when encountering aggressive or speeding drivers on the road:

• If you are in the passing lane and someone desires to pass you, avoid speeding up but instead, move over to the right lane, if clear, and let them pass you
• Give speeding drivers plenty of space because they could lose control of their vehicle, or encounter a hazard that doesn’t allow them to correct their driving without causing an accident
• Adjust your driving accordingly by moving to the right lane, maintaining a safe distance from other cars, or slowing to a more controllable speed
• Call the police if you believe a driver is following or harassing you

Our dedicated Florida car accident law firm can help you if you’ve been injured in a speeding accident. We defend drivers accused of speeding, help reduce penalties, and ensure your rights are protected in negotiations and trials. 

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