Speed May Have Contributed to Triple Injury Crash on Far West Side
At least three people were hospitalized following a head-on crash in a busy part of town.
The wreck took place on Culebra Road outside Loop 410. According to police and witnesses, a woman in a red car, who may have been speeding, veered into oncoming traffic and collided head-on with an SUV on the other side. The SUV then careened into a third vehicle. All three divers were rushed to nearby hospitals. Two children were also involved in the crash, but the extent of their injuries was unclear.
The woman indicated that she lost control of her vehicle just before the initial crash.
Breach in a Negligence Case
Speed is a factor in almost a third of fatal car crashes in the United States, costing an estimated $40 billion a year and killing over 14,000 people. Speed is dangerous on several levels:
- Force: The faster an object is moving, the more force it accumulates. So, speed often transforms “fender bender” crashes into serious and fatal wrecks. Speed also transforms loose objects in vehicles, like cell phones, into fast-moving projectiles that cause serious injury.
- Control: At higher speeds, vehicles are more difficult to steer, making it difficult or impossible to compensate for driving errors or avoid unexpected obstacles.
- Stopping: At 60 mph, a vehicle travels eighteen car lengths before it stops. At 70 mph, the stopping distance is one-third greater, or twenty-four car lengths. Factor in wet pavement or slippery road surfaces and the stopping distance increases even more.
Excessive velocity is even more dangerous when the speeding driver is also impaired due to alcohol intoxication, fatigue, distraction, or some other status.
Damages in a Negligence Case
Texas is a tort litigation state, meaning that car crash victims are entitled to a full range of compensatory damages. In addition to economic losses, like past and future medical expenses, current and future lost wages and property damage, victims may recover noneconomic damages for pain and suffering, emotional distress, and loss of enjoyment in life.
Especially if the driver was operating at a high rate of speed, punitive damages may also be available. These additional damages are designed to punish tortfeasors (negligent drivers) who consciously disregard the safety and property of others.
Speed is one of the most common breaches of duty. If you have been hurt in a car wreck involving excessive speed, contact an experienced personal injury attorney in New Braunfels today. After hours and hospital visits are available.
Sources:
http://foxsanantonio.com/news/local/3-hurt-in-head-on-crash-on-culebra-road
http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810998.pdf
http://www.brake.org.uk/rsw/15-facts-a-resources/facts/1255-speed
