High-speed crashes are among the most dangerous motor vehicle accidents. A driver traveling well above the speed limit has far less time to react and significantly less control over their vehicle. The force and impact of such accidents can cause catastrophic, life-altering crash injuries.
Why Are High-Speed Crashes So Dangerous?
Speeding is one of the top factors in serious and fatal car accidents across Illinois. Even a small increase in vehicle speed can dramatically increase the severity of a collision.
High-speed crashes are especially dangerous because:
- Reduced reaction time – A speeding driver has less time to see hazards and maneuver to avoid a collision.
- Longer stopping distances – Faster vehicles require more distance to come to a complete stop. At high speeds, a driver may not be able to stop in time to avoid a stopped vehicle.
- Greater impact force – The higher the speed, the more forceful the impact. Increased force leads to severe injuries, crushed vehicle compartments, and a higher risk of fatalities.
In essence, high speeds make it much harder to steer, brake safely, or navigate curves, while at the same time increasing the potential force of a collision.
Common Injuries in Speeding Collisions
The violent nature of a high-speed crash often results in significant physical harm. Some of the most common injuries include:
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs).
- Spinal cord injuries.
- Broken bones in the arms, legs, ribs, and facial bones.
- Internal injuries to the liver, spleen, or lungs.
- Severe lacerations and burns.
- Whiplash and soft-tissue trauma.
These injuries often require extensive medical care, rehabilitation, and long-term treatment. You can recover compensation for these and other injuries through a Batavia personal injury claim, which allows you to seek money for all your economic and non-economic damages.
How to Prove a Driver Was Speeding at the Time of a Crash
Proving the at-fault driver was speeding requires evidence. Not all speeding drivers receive citations for exceeding the speed limit and causing an accident.
Therefore, your personal injury claim might rely on the following types of evidence to prove a driver was speeding:
- Police crash reports
- Witness statements
- Skid marks, debris patterns, and crash-scene measurements
- Surveillance or traffic-camera footage
- Event data recorder (“black box”) downloads
- Vehicle damage analysis
- Expert accident reconstruction testimony
An experienced car accident attorney can investigate your accident and gather evidence to demonstrate that the driver was traveling too fast for conditions or exceeding the posted limit.
Contact a Batavia Car Accident Lawyer for Help After a Speeding Accident
High-speed crashes in Batavia often lead to severe injuries and significant financial losses. Victims should not have to shoulder these burdens alone.
- Investigate the crash by gathering police reports, witness statements, photographs, and video footage.
- Work with expert witnesses such as reconstruction specialists, medical experts, and engineers to strengthen your claim.
- Handle all communication with insurance companies.
- Calculate the full value of your damages, including medical expenses and more.
- Protect you from unfair blame under Illinois’ modified comparative negligence rule.
- Negotiate aggressively for a fair settlement based on solid evidence and expert analysis.
- Prepare your case for trial, if necessary, to pursue the maximum compensation available under Illinois law.
If you were injured, you should contact an experienced Batavia car accident lawyer for help understanding your rights and options. Call Feagans Law Group for a free consultation to learn more.