The Dangers of Speeding on Florida Roads 

Speeding, or driving over the legally posted speed limit, is a violation of Florida laws. As personal injury attorneys in the area, our team consistently sees the results of such accidents. Victims of speeding accidents often face long-term complications from serious and life-threatening outcomes. If you were the victim of another person’s speeding or negligence, we strongly encourage you to reach out to our Sarasota car accident attorney and Bradenton car accident lawyer at Shapiro | Delgado so we can help you recover damages owed to you.

Consider the Outcome of Speeding and Aggressive Driving in Florida

The Florida Department of Transportation provides some key details about speeding, including the fact that about one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities in the state are directly related to one driver speeding, a fact that has remained consistent for nearly 20 years. What does speeding lead to?

• A much higher risk of potential loss of control of the vehicle
• Reduced effectiveness of personal protective equipment within the car, such as seat belts and airbags being less dependable
• A need for a much larger stopping distance to safely stop the vehicle, which may not be enough to do so
• Increased risk of severe outcomes from car accidents, often involving serious and life-threatening injuries
• A much higher risk of loss of life to the driver, passengers, or other driver involved in the accident

When you mix speeding with other behaviors of aggressive driving, the risks worsen. For example, if a driver is speeding and another is merging, the merging driver may be unable to gain speed fast enough, causing the speeding driver to tailgate, strike them, or swerve around them into another vehicle. A driver who moves into the left lane to pass has the legal right to do so. If the driver in the current lane speeds to make it impossible for that driver to pass, that could be the speeder’s fault when an accident occurs. Also notable is that speeding drivers have less ability to gauge the amount of space they need to pass, merge, or stop. The same applies to drivers who get in the way of a speeding car, increasing the risk of injuries and losses.

What to Do If You Are Struck By a Speeding Driver

In situations where another driver strikes you, and you believe they were speeding at the time, it is critical to consider the following:

• Call 911 and allow the police to come to the scene of the accident to document what occurred.
• Provide factual statements to the police about what you saw. That includes why you believe the other driver was speeding.
• Let your attorney provide you with guidance on how to prove this through accident reconstruction tools or by getting more witness statements.

Speeding drivers put everyone else at risk. In many cases, your PIP car insurance will cover the losses you have in such an accident. However, it is up to you to prove the value of those losses and build a strong case. Our attorneys can help you with that process.

Call Our Personal Injury Attorneys for the Guidance You Need

Seek out a free consultation with our car accident attorneys in Southwest Florida for the guidance you need. At Shapiro | Delgado, our legal team is ready to fight for your full recovery of damages. Call us to set up a case review now.