Excessive Speeding Leads to Deadly Crash
An unidentified 34-year-old man lost his life in early October after failing to navigate a tight curve at a high speed in Austin, Texas. The police determined that the Honda Accord was moving at an excessive speed. Unable to make the turn, the vehicle went into the center median and struck a tree. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene. While most people think of car accidents as multi-vehicle collisions, many crashes involve a single car and another object. A single-vehicle crash can be just as dangerous or deadly as an accident involving two or more vehicles. If you lost a loved one in a car accident, do not hesitate to call the experienced wrongful death attorneys at our firm. We can help you review your family’s situation to determine if there were contributing factors to your loved one’s death such as unsafe roads or a defect within the car. We can also advise you on whether another party may be partly responsible.
Single-Vehicle Crashes in Texas
Despite our belief that most deadly vehicle accidents include multiple cars or trucks, the truth is that 56 percent of motor vehicle fatalities across the U.S. in 2014 happened in single-vehicle crashes. In 2014, Texas saw 1,860 fatal single-vehicle accidents, which was 53 percent of all deadly car crashes. The figures were similar in 2013 when 52 percent of all fatal crashes only involved one vehicle.
These facts remind drivers that their own behavior behind the wheel is more likely to cause them harm than another person on the road. All drivers must first and foremost follow the rules of the road and remain cautious behind the wheel. It is by following the rules and driving carefully that drivers do the most to prevent single-vehicle crashes. Actions such as speeding, swerving between lanes, and ignoring traffic signs increase the risk of a deadly accident.
Excessive Speeding Leads to Accidents
Not all single-vehicle crashes are caused by speeding, but driving over the speed limit is a common factor in both single- and multi-vehicle accidents. By speeding, drivers make it more difficult to control their vehicles or notice hazards in time to avoid them. According to the Texas Department of Public Transportation, 165 speeding drivers died in speeding over the limit-related crashes in 2015. That same year, 57 passengers within the speeding vehicles, 62 people in non-speeding vehicles, and 13 pedestrians were killed because of accidents related to driving faster than the posted speed limit.
A Wrongful Death Lawyer Can Help
If you lost a loved one in a car accident, you face a difficult path. You need time to mourn, but you must also face the harsh details of arranging a memorial, paying medical expenses or property damage due to the crash, and handling everyday bills without the other person’s income. At the Bettersworth Law Firm, our experienced New Braunfels wrongful death attorneys understand how tragic car accidents put families in difficult positions, but emotionally and financially. During a free, confidential consultation, we are happy to review your situation and determine if another person may be liable for your loved one’s death. If so, we can help you move forward with insurance claims or a wrongful death suit to recover.
Sources:
http://patch.com/texas/north-austin/police-disclose-further-details-deadly-north-austin-weekend-crash
http://www.iihs.org/iihs/topics/t/general-statistics/fatalityfacts/state-by-state-overview
http://ftp.dot.state.tx.us/pub/txdot-info/trf/crash_statistics/2015/19.pdf
