A fatal crash on the 215 Beltway at the Decatur Boulevard exit involved a black BMW that rolled over several times before coming to rest in a rock section beside the road, according to the Nevada Highway Patrol. The driver, a man in his 30s, died at the scene. Witnesses claim that the man was driving recklessly prior to the crash and speeding in excess of 100 miles per hour. The investigation into the crash continues.
SPEEDING: ONE OF THE TOP THREE CAUSES OF ACCIDENTAL DEATH
Speeding, or driving faster than the posted speed limit on a highway, is one of the three major causes of death for drivers and others in car crashes. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, in the year 2011, 31 percent of the 32,367 traffic fatalities involved speed in some way. Many people who are killed in speeding accidents are young people. According to the NHTSA, 39 percent of males and 24 percent of females between the ages of 15 and 20 who died in car crashes were killed in speed-related crashes.
Furthermore, speed was a feature in about 42 percent of all fatal alcohol-related accidents. Of all the top causes of death in traffic accidents—speeding, alcohol and distraction—speeding continues to be one of the most significant factors for young people.
CAN I RECOVER DAMAGES IN A SPEED-RELATED ACCIDENT?
The case in question appears to be fairly clear cut: a driver was speeding excessively and caused his own fatal accident. However, until the investigation is finished, the true circumstances of that accident may not be clear. Not all accidents involving speed are so clear cut. Sometimes, someone is speeding because of a stuck accelerator, failed brakes or other mechanical defects.
When that happens, the manufacturer of the vehicle, rather than the driver may actually be at fault. When speed is involved in an accident, it can be because of driver error but it can also be because of other factors. If a driver is deliberately speeding, anyone he or she harms as a result of the accident may also be entitled to damages.
Contact Our Legal Team Today
Contact a car accident lawyer in Las Vegas, NV at High Stakes Injury Law today if you have been the victim of a speed-related accident. You may be entitled to collect monetary compensation including payment of all of your medical expenses and sums for your pain, suffering and emotional trauma.