Exterior Of The Office Building Of McDowell & Morrissette, PA
A Manchester Personal Injury Law Firm

Speeding a prominent factor in fatal crashes in 2018

On Behalf of | Sep 23, 2020 | Motor Vehicle Accidents |

Perhaps you were seriously injured at the hands of a speeding driver in New Hampshire, or perhaps a loved one was killed in a speeding-related crash. Sadly, speeding continues to be a factor in thousands of fatal crashes. In 2018, there were 8,447 such crashes, and they led to a total of 9,378 deaths: That’s an average of more than 25 per day. Speeding was, ultimately, behind 26% of all fatal crashes that year.

The number has been going down though the numbers are still unacceptable. In 2010, there were 10,508 speeding-related crash deaths, and they composed 32% of all fatal crashes.

Crash percentages by age group

Men were more likely than women were to be found speeding at the time of a fatal crash. Thirty percent of men between 15 and 20 years old involved in these crashes were speeding, making this age group the most dangerous. Among women of that same age group, 18% were found to be speeding. Next were 21- to 24-year-olds: 29% for men, and 14% for women.

The percentages declined with age so that 8% of men aged 75 and above were speeding at the time of a fatal crash. For women 75 and older, that percentage was 5%.

Traveling too fast for road conditions

It’s not just breaking the speed limit that’s negligent; drivers may cause crashes by traveling too fast for road conditions. Of all the crashes in 2018 that occurred on roads with dirt, gravel or mud, 45% involved speeding. Experts discovered that this was so with 41% of crashes on icy or frosty roads and 37% of accidents on roads with moving or standing water. Conversely, speeding factored into 16% of crashes on dry roads.

Seeing a lawyer about your case

Many speeding-related car accidents lead to personal injury claims and wrongful death lawsuits. If you’re thinking to file one or another type of claim, you may want a lawyer to guide you through this stressful time. He or she may negotiate for a good out-of-court settlement, litigating if the other side does not agree to one.