speeding accidents

Chicago Speeding Accident Attorneys

Speeding drivers pose a significant danger to other motorists, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 12,330 traffic fatalities were attributed to speeding in 2021, and approximately one-third of all traffic accidents involve speeding. Speeding drivers can be held accountable when their dangerous decisions harm others. If you were injured in a speeding accident in Chicago, you deserve the help and guidance of a skilled local attorney who can protect your rights while you focus on your recovery.

The Chicago car accident attorneys of Salvi Schostok & Pritchard P.C. are committed to representing individuals injured in speeding car accidents. Call our downtown Chicago or Lake County offices today for a free case review.

How We Can Help After a Speeding Car Crash

Don’t try to handle your speeding accident claim alone. Instead, turn to Salvi Schostok & Pritchard P.C. for help. While you rest and recover, we can:

  • Investigate your case – We’ll work to establish the speeding driver’s responsibility for your injuries by gathering high-quality evidence. This includes analyzing reports and footage, obtaining statements from witnesses, and working with a dedicated team of subject matter experts.
  • Contact and negotiate with insurance companies – Our team can write the demand letter to the speeding driver’s insurer and open negotiations on your behalf. Lowball offers are never fair to car accident survivors, so we always negotiate for the best and most comprehensive settlement possible. If the at-fault driver does not have required liability coverage, we can also help you file an uninsured/underinsured motorist claim with your own insurer.
  • Take your case to trial – While most car accident lawsuits settle before they reach trial, we always prepare each case as though it will go straight to the courtroom. If settlement negotiations are unsuccessful, our car accident attorneys have the skills and tools to present your case to a jury and argue for a favorable verdict.
  • Provide personalized support – We guide our clients through each step of the legal and recovery process, connecting them to valuable local resources as necessary.

Dangers of Speeding

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding has been involved in nearly one-third of fatal crashes for more than two decades. The Governors Highway Safety Association said that the current number of speeding-related deaths is higher than it has been in the last 25 years.

Speeding is a leading cause of car accidents, not just in Chicago, but across Illinois as a whole. One recent year saw a 14 percent increase in speeding incidents in Chicago, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation. In another year, speeding contributed to 39.2 percent of traffic fatalities statewide. What makes these numbers so tragic is knowing that speeding-related deaths can be avoided simply by deciding to drive at a safe speed.

Here are just a few factors behind speeding-related crashes:

  • Speeding drivers have less reaction time – At higher speeds, drivers have less time to react to sudden changes or obstacles on the road. Reaction time is one contributing factor in many speed-related crashes.
  • Speeding drivers go too fast for conditions – Speeding increases the risk of hydroplaning, skidding, spinning out, or losing control on wet or icy roads. According to Illinois’s state laws, it is illegal for drivers to maintain a speed faster than conditions safely permit or which endangers the safety of any person.
  • Speeding drivers have a shorter, riskier stopping distance – The faster a car travels, the more distance it needs to stop. If there’s an emergency, hazard, or abrupt change in traffic flow, a speeding driver may not have enough stopping distance to avoid causing a crash even if they apply the brakes immediately.
  • Speeding drivers are more likely to cause serious injury – Speed and force have a direct relationship, so the faster a driver travels, the more force they have on impact and the more likely it is that vehicle occupants will suffer motor vehicle fatalities or serious injuries.
  • Speeding causes safety equipment to be less effective – Accidents that occur at high speeds can also result in serious injuries because seat belts, airbags, and other safety features are not as effective at increased speeds.
  • Speeding causes reduced effectiveness of road safety structures – The National Safety Council reports that excessive speeding reduces the effectiveness of road safety structures, such as guardrails, median dividers, concrete barriers, impact attenuators, and crash cushions, which are designed to protect vehicle occupants in case of a crash.

Why Do Drivers Speed?

There is never a valid reason for speeding, but the driver who injured you could try to cite one of the following reasons for their negligent and unlawful behavior:

  • “I’m running late.” – A driver might claim they were in a hurry to reach their destination. However, the time they save by speeding is negligible compared to the risks they assume. Research on speeding in urban environments shows speeding drivers only save 26 seconds per day, or up to two minutes per week, while significantly increasing the risk that they cause an accident.
  • “I’m an experienced, confident driver.” – Research shows that young male drivers are more likely to speed compared to female drivers. However, some older drivers speed, too. Speeding always increases the chance a driver will lose control, no matter how experienced or confident they claim to be.
  • “I was keeping pace with traffic.” – Regardless of how others on the road are driving, staying within posted speed limits is the safe and legally required choice.
  • “I was chasing a thrill,” – Public roads are not places for risky behaviors. The potential for deadly crashes and serious injuries far outweighs any thrill of speeding.

Compensation Available in Speeding Auto Wrecks

Illinois is a fault state, so the driver who is at fault for causing the crash is responsible for paying compensation to anyone they injured.

Those injured in speed-related crashes caused by other drivers can recover compensation for their:

  • Medical expenses
  • Lost wages
  • Long-term care and rehabilitation services
  • Car repair or replacement
  • Other property repairs
  • Physical pain
  • Emotional distress

To prove that the speeding driver was responsible, the victim’s lawyer must collect evidence that the driver was at fault. This could include the following:

  • Video footage from a dashcam, security camera, Ring doorbell, etc.
  • Eyewitness testimony
  • A guilty plea or conviction for a specific speeding offense

The lawyer must also prove the nature of their client’s injuries and losses through:

  • Medical, rehabilitation, and therapy records
  • Financial documents to show lost wages and income, such as pay stubs and tax returns
  • Vehicle repair invoices or estimates
  • Journals or other documentation to track pain and suffering

Sometimes, car accident lawyers may hire expert witnesses to further support a victim’s case.

Contact Us Today for Your Free Case Review

If a speeding driver injured you in Chicago, don’t wait to take action. Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. has secured more than 350 million and multi-million dollar verdicts since 1982, including the largest personal injury verdict in Illinois history. Our diverse team and resources have grown through the years, but our goal remains the same: to give our clients the most vigorous, empathetic, and honest standard of representation we can. Contact our Chicago or Lake County offices for a free consultation today.