In Maryland, drivers are required to obey posted speed limits. When a driver causes a crash or collision by speeding, the victim may be entitled to injury compensation. If you were injured in a car accident caused by speeding, you should discuss the situation with a Maryland accident injury lawyer, like Randolph Rice.
You may be able to obtain compensation for your lost wages, medical bills, and other accident-related damages by filing an insurance claim or injury lawsuit.
The victims of serious car crash injuries need strategic legal guidance. Make sure that your rights are protected by an experienced attorney who will fight hard for you and your loved ones. To set up a free legal consultation, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras online, or call (410) 694-7291 for 24-hour assistance.
Can You Get Compensation for a Car Accident Caused by Speeding?
As the victim of a car accident in Maryland, you may be able to get compensated for your injuries, in addition to other losses and damages that you have sustained. For example, you may be able to recover damages for your pain and suffering, your medical costs (including anticipated treatment expenses), and lost wages related to your accident.
However, to receive car accident compensation in Maryland, you must prove that the other driver was fully responsible for the accident. If you were partially at fault for the accident, even to a minor degree, you may lose your ability to recover compensation with the help of a Maryland personal injury lawyer. In other words, the key points you must prove are that:
- A negligent motorist caused you to get into an accident, whether by speeding or violating other traffic laws (such as failing to signal or driving while intoxicated).
- You suffered injuries as a result of the accident.
- The other driver was completely at fault for the crash, and your own actions did not in any way contribute. This is known as Maryland’s “contributory negligence” law.
Speeding Accident Statistics
Speeding is known by traffic safety researchers to be a major cause of car accidents throughout the U.S. Tragically, these types of accidents could be prevented with safer, slower, more considerate driving.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding was a factor in almost 9,400 accident fatalities during 2018 alone. In 2017, speeding played a role in more than a quarter of all car accident deaths.
Speeding is an example of aggressive driving. the NHTSA has identified the following factors as major causes of aggressive driving, such as speeding:
- “Anonymity”
- “Disregard for others”
- “Running late”
- “Traffic congestion”
Common Injuries Caused by Speeding Accidents in Maryland
While any type of vehicular accident can cause injuries, the damage from a high-speed collision is likely to be more serious. Even with protection from airbags, the immense force of impact creates a high likelihood that vehicle occupants could fracture bones, be cut by broken glass, dislocate joints, or sustain other injuries.
Injuries can also occur when objects inside the car, such as heavy groceries, strike a driver or passenger. Examples of injuries commonly caused by high-speed car accidents include, but are not limited to, the following:
- Back injuries, such as herniated discs
- Broken bones
- Chest and abdominal injuries
- Concussions and other traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Cuts and bruises
- Internal bleeding or other internal injuries
- Joint injuries, such as knee or hip injuries
- Road rash, if the victim is ejected from the vehicle
- Spinal cord injuries (SCIs), which can cause paralysis
- Torn ligaments
- Whiplash or other neck injuries
Randolph Rice can assist you with car accident claims involving these or other types of injuries. If you, your spouse, or one of your family members was hurt in a car accident caused by speeding, contact Rice, Murtha & Psoras for assistance right away.
What to Do if You Are Injured in a Car Accident in Maryland
By taking the right steps after a car crash in Maryland, you can help to improve your odds of recovering injury compensation. If you are in a car accident, you should try to take the following actions:
- First and foremost, seek medical care right away, even if you do not seem injured. You may have internal injuries that need to be diagnosed and treated immediately. Additionally, seeking prompt treatment is important to your injury claim.
- Try to obtain the other driver’s full name, contact information, and insurance information.
- Report the crash to the police right away. A police accident report, though inadmissible as trial evidence, can be a useful tool to have when negotiating a car accident settlement. All fatal or injury crashes in Maryland must be reported to the police under state law.
- If you can do so safely, try to take photos or video footage of the crash site and your vehicle.
- Contact a speeding car accident lawyer in Maryland for legal assistance.
Maryland Attorney for a Car Accident Injury Caused by Speeding
If you were hit by a speeding driver in Maryland, we can help you understand and take the next steps. We may be able to help you get compensated for lost earnings, pain and suffering, and various medical expenses, such as surgeries, medications, or medical devices. To find out whether you could have a claim, contact us online or call the Baltimore car accident attorneys at Rice, Murtha & Psoras at (410) 694-7291 for a free legal consultation.