Birmingham Speeding Accident Lawyers
If you sustained catastrophic injuries or your loved one was killed in a motor vehicle accident caused by a speeding driver, the other motorist could be considered negligent and be liable for all of your damages. You should not be responsible for any of your medical bills, lost income, or other damages.
Violations of posted speed limits are routinely the leading cause of fatal car accidents in Alabama. They also cause many crashes that result in serious injuries. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reports that the 9,717 people killed by speeding in the United States accounted for 26% of all traffic fatalities that year.
Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP has been helping victims of car accidents caused by speeding and many other types of negligence for more than two decades. Our firm fights to help victims of these types of crashes recover all of the compensation in which they are entitled.
Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP understands the tremendous toll that severe injuries take not just on victims, but entire families, and how these daily struggles can create a real financial hardship. Call (205) 324-1212 or contact us online to take advantage of a free consultation that will let our firm review your case.
Do I Need A Speeding Accident Lawyer?
After you have been involved in an accident with another driver who was speeding, you may think the other driver was clearly at fault. You should never assume that the other driver’s insurance company is going to see it that way because they are financially committed to proving otherwise.
Many insurance companies for negligent drivers will inform all victims that they have assigned the case to a claims adjuster who will be investigating the accident. The claims adjuster then works to minimize the company’s liability.
One of the primary ways a claims adjuster accomplishes their goal is by getting people to agree to provide recorded statements. These statements are often used to get people to unknowingly make damaging admissions about their own negligence so it can be used against them. For this reason, you should never make any recorded statement without legal representation.
Some insurance companies may offer victims lump sum settlements, but these amounts are usually far short of what victims deserve. An attorney will be able to negotiate a settlement that will last and cover all of your past, present, and future bills.
Why Choose Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP To Handle My Case?
Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP has recovered more than $200 million for our clients. We regularly contribute to our community, having participated in the Alzheimer’s of Central Alabama’s Walking to Remember event, sponsored the Holy Family Cristo Rey Catholic High School’s BBQ, and worked closely with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama.
Partners Kirby Farris, Ken Riley, and JD Lawrence are all members of the Birmingham Bar Association, Alabama Bar Association, and American Bar Association. Mr. Farris was named one of the Top 100 Trial Lawyers by the National Trial Lawyers Association in 2015. Mr. Riley received the designation of AV Preeminent from Martindale-Hubbell. Mr. Lawrence was named a Rising Star by Super Lawyers in 2011.
Our firm will make every effort to ensure you receive a full and fair settlement. When an insurance company refuses to provide appropriate compensation, we can file a lawsuit.
Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP also provides its services on a contingency fee basis, meaning that you will not owe us anything unless you get something. Our fees will be a percentage of your final award.
Types of Speeding Accident Cases We Handle
Speeding accidents have the potential to result in devastating crashes. Drivers who are exceeding the posted speed limits cannot come to sudden stops when they are required. Speeding motorists can also be susceptible to a sudden loss of control that can lead to devastating wrecks.
People can suffer a wide variety of injuries in speeding accidents, with some of the most common including, but not being limited to:
- Internal organ injuries
- Lacerations
- Neck injuries
- Muscle strains
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Sprains
- Spinal cord injuries
- Fractures
- Paralysis
Speeding accidents in Alabama commonly result in fatalities. The family of a person killed by a speeding driver could be able to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) About Speeding Accidents
If you’ve been injured in a car accident that was the result of another driver speeding, you probably have questions. Below are some of the most common questions the Alabama car accident attorneys at Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP get from clients.
What should I do if I am involved in a speeding accident?
First, take care of yourself first after a motor vehicle accident. Get medical attention at the scene of your crash or go to a hospital – make sure you do not wait to have your condition evaluated. You want to treat your injuries as soon as possible, and not all injuries are immediately known.
At the scene of your accident, you should also try to take pictures of everything that was involved in your crash. Take the photos from a variety of angles and distances, so you have a good assortment. Look for people who might have seen the accident and get their contact information in case you need witnesses, which can be very helpful when a driver denies speeding. If you cannot take any of these steps yourself because of the need for medical care, then ask someone to do this for you.
Do not post anything about your accident on Facebook, Instagram, or any other social media, as insurance companies can collect the information you share and used against you. Try not to say anything about your crash to anyone until you have spoken to a lawyer.
What is contributory negligence?
Alabama is one of only five states in the country that still recognizes the affirmative defense of contributory negligence in civil actions. Under contributory negligence, a person cannot recover any damages from a defendant when they contributed in any way to their injuries. In other words, a person who was 1% at fault would not be allowed to recover anything from the party that was 99% at fault. Liability depends on a defendant being 100% at fault. Contributory negligence is one of the first loopholes that an insurance company will be looking to exploit, so you must be extremely cautious about what you sign and what you say after your crash.
Do I still have a case if a driver is not convicted of speeding?
Yes. A speeding ticket is an entirely separate case from a civil action, so the outcome of one case does not necessarily have a bearing on the other. Furthermore, it is crucial to understand that the burden of proof in a civil action is much different from the one used in a criminal court for a speeding ticket.
A civil personal injury claim only needs to be proven by a “preponderance of the evidence,” which is akin to a feather on the scale of the justice (a simple majority of the evidence) as opposed to the rock required by “beyond a reasonable doubt” in a criminal case (requiring a jury to have no doubt about an alleged offender’s guilt). People can get out of speeding tickets for all kinds of technical reasons, but it does not necessarily mean that they did not still commit the violation or that they were not still somehow negligent.
Speeding Accident Statistics
According to the 2017 Crash Facts from the Alabama Department of Transportation (ALDOT), speeding was the most common known driver contributing circumstance to all fatal crashes in 2017. Speeding accounted for 8,455 accidents and 138 fatal crashes.
The 2016 Crash Facts also reported that speeding was the leading cause of fatal crashes. That year, speeding caused 7,229 accidents and 153 fatal crashes.
Speeding was also the leading cause of fatal crashes in 2015 when ALDOT reported 8,741 total crashes and 125 fatal crashes were caused by speeding. Speeding caused 107 fatal accidents, the most of any known contributing factor, in 2014 when there were 7,196 total speeding crashes. In 2013, speeding caused 7,241 crashes and 118 fatal crashes, again the most of any known contributing factor. The same fact was true in 2012 (8,487 total crashes, 211 fatal crashes), 2010 (2,666 total crashes, 118 fatal crashes), and 2009 (3,020 total crashes, 137 fatal crashes). In 2011, the 220 fatal crashes caused by speeding matched by the 220 fatal crashes caused by driving under the influence, and speeding also caused 9,114 total crashes that year, the most of any year mentioned here.
Contact a Birmingham Speeding Accident Attorney Today
Did you sustain serious injuries, or was your loved one killed in a car accident caused by a speeding driver in Birmingham? Make sure that you retain legal counsel before you speak to an insurance company.
Farris, Riley & Pitt, LLP has recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for our clients, and we are committed to helping people achieve the most favorable outcomes to their cases. You can have our Birmingham car accident lawyers explore all of your legal options as soon as you call (205) 324-1212 or fill out an online contact form to set up a free consultation.
