Speeding accidents are among the most common auto accidents in South Carolina and the United States. Drivers who ignore the posted speed limit or drive too fast for the road conditions can cause devastating injuries. Speeding drivers require more distance to swerve, slow down, or stop their vehicles to avoid collisions.
When drivers speed and collide with victims, the force of the impact is usually significant, and severe injuries are more likely to occur. If a speeding driver in South Carolina has seriously injured you or your loved one, you may be entitled to compensation for your medical expenses, lost income, pain and suffering, and other damages. Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A. can help you pursue the damages you need and deserve.
Why Is Speeding So Dangerous?
Driving faster than the posted speed limit in South Carolina is considered a traffic violation. Speeding can result in car accidents, and speeding drivers can face criminal charges. If you were the victim of a speeding accident and the driver who caused the accident received a speeding ticket, it’s important that you obtain a police report after the accident. You can show that the driver’s speeding caused your accident, helping you prove liability and recover the compensation you deserve.
Driving too fast makes a driver more likely to hit a pedestrian, bicyclist, or another driver because it gives the driver less control of his or her vehicle. When drivers are speeding, there’s an increased likelihood of rollover accidents, loss of control as a driver, and the possibility of a severe crash will increase. Speeding drivers have a reduced reaction time and need more distance to safely stop to avoid colliding with the vehicle in front of them. They may not be able to yield safely, resulting in a car accident.
In addition to driving at excessive speeds of the posted speed limit, speeding can also involve driving too fast for the road conditions, such as ice, rain, or hail. It can also include driving carelessly through construction zones, increasing the likelihood of colliding with a construction worker, another driver, or heavy machinery.
Common Injuries Resulting from Speeding Accidents
Speeding drivers have less control over their vehicles than drivers who operate safely. A lack of control combined with high speeds can cause devastating or even fatal injuries for victims.
If you’ve suffered a severe injury, you could be facing mounting medical expenses, the need for a lengthy rehabilitation, and the inability to earn an income as you heal from your injuries. Your injuries may leave you with lifelong consequences, including the need for extensive medical care for the rest of your life. Some of the most common types of physical injuries that occur in car accident cases include the following:
- Amputation
- Internal injuries
- Neck injuries
- Deep lacerations
- Burns
- Seat belt injuries, including broken ribs, chest bruising, and internal injuries
- Spinal cord damage, including partial or total paralysis
- Severe scarring
- Broken bones
- Strains and sprains
- Back and neck injuries
- Traumatic brain injuries
Speeding Can Cause Fatal Car Accidents
Speeding is one of the most common factors in fatal car accidents. When drivers speed, they usually don’t have enough time to avoid a pedestrian or bicyclist by swerving out of the way. They may not even see a motorcyclist because they are speeding and not checking their blind spots before they swerve into him or her while making a lane change. Fatal car accidents are more likely to involve pedestrians, bicyclists, motorcyclists, and speeding drivers.
The likelihood of fatalities increases when the intensity of the crash is significant. Drivers of motor vehicles benefit from safety features such as airbags and seat belts. However, when a speeding driver collides with them, the safety features may not protect them as much as in other types of accidents. In South Carolina, hundreds of fatal accidents involving speeding drivers occur every year. If your loved one has been killed in a speeding accident, you may have the right to pursue damages through a wrongful death lawsuit. Doing so would help you hold the asphalt driver accountable and recover the compensation your family needs to move forward.
Pursuing Compensation for Your Car Accident Injuries
Serious car accidents can cause significant financial strain. As the victim of a car accident, you have a legal right to pursue compensation from the person or company whose negligence caused the accident. South Carolina recognizes two main types of damages and personal injury lawsuits: economic and non-economic. The attorneys at Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A. regularly work with financial and medical experts. We will carefully determine the total value of your claim.
Economic damages compensate victims for the easily quantifiable financial losses they’ve suffered because of their injuries. If you’ve been seriously injured, a significant percentage of your damages claim will be for your current and future medical expenses. Medical expenses include hospital stays, surgeries, rehabilitation, physical and occupational therapy, durable medical equipment, and at-home medical care.
You can also pursue compensation for the wages you did not receive because you could not return to work. If your injuries have caused long-term injury disability, you can also pursue damages for your loss of future earning capacity. Additionally, if your vehicle was damaged or totaled in the accident, you can pursue compensation for the replacement repair of your car.
Non-economic damages compensate victims for the physical pain and emotional distress they’ve suffered, along with their diminished quality of life. In some cases, additional punitive damages are available.
Discuss Your Speeding Accident Case with Our Skilled Attorneys in South Carolina
For over 125 years, the attorneys at Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A. have successfully represented South Carolina residents in car accident cases. We will pursue a favorable outcome in your case. Contact us to schedule a complimentary, no-obligation case evaluation with a skilled attorney.
From law offices in Florence and Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, Willcox, Buyck & Williams, P.A. serves Myrtle Beach, Surfside Beach, Garden City, the Grand Strand, and other communities throughout Florence County, Marion County, Horry County, Darlington County, and Georgetown County.