Speeding Car Accident Lawyers in Augusta

The speeding car accident lawyers at Chris Hudson Law Group can help if you were injured in a collision caused by a speeding driver. Call us at (706) 863-6600 for help with your case.

Everyone knows it’s dangerous to break basic traffic laws. Driving too fast is reckless behavior that could cause a severe car accident.

Despite taking basic precautions yourself, you’re at risk if you cross paths with a motorist who’s speeding. The injuries that result from high-speed crashes range from minor to life-threatening. You could require months of treatment and time away from work. That adds up to expensive medical bills and the inability to earn a living.

Multiple factors will determine if you’re able to pursue financial compensation. If the other driver’s speeding caused your injury, you could file a claim with their liability insurance carrier.

Hiring an experienced lawyer from Chris Hudson Law Group ensures fair treatment from the insurance adjuster. We’ll aggressively fight to get you the maximum settlement available in your case. Contact us today and we’ll schedule your free consultation.

Car Accident Statistics in Georgia

The Georgia Governor’s Office of Highway Safety collected data for speeding citations and counted 601,905 citations in 2017. That was a 2.6% increase from the previous year. Additionally, approximately 250 fatalities resulted from speeding accidents.

Georgia ranked number 14 in the country for crash-related fatalities in 2018. Of all fatal crashes, 70% happened because someone was speeding, distracted, or impaired. In 2018 alone, 1,514 victims died from a collision caused by unsafe driver behavior.

According to statistics, over 1,720 drivers get into a car accident each day. Motor vehicle crashes also account for 20% of all injuries requiring hospitalization. The National Safety Council named speeding as the second most common reason auto-related accidents occur.

Excessive speeds often coincide with alcohol impairment. Close to 22% of speeding drivers under the age of 21 involved in a fatal crash also consumed alcohol before getting behind the wheel. Of individuals between 25 and 44 years of age involved in a fatal crash, 42% drove under the influence of alcohol while also speeding.

In addition to driving too fast while impaired, roadway conditions contribute to injuries and fatalities. Around 45% of surfaces containing mud, dirt, or gravel lead to speeding drivers colliding with another vehicle, pedestrian, or object. A little more than 40% of speed-related crashes occur on icy roads.

Injuries Associated With High-Speed Car Accidents

Crashing into another vehicle causes a range of injuries. Even if both motorists follow the posted speed limit, there’s the potential of suffering broken bones or a concussion.

Imagine if one driver is speeding. Vehicles provide airbags, seatbelts, and other forms of protection. However, collisions occurring at excessive speeds leave little room for escaping with minor bruises and scrapes. When you cross paths with someone traveling above the speed limit, you could sustain life-threatening injuries.

The most common injuries resulting from speeding accidents include:

• Lacerations
• Traumatic brain injury
• Broken or fractured bones
• Whiplash
• Spinal injury
• Paralysis
• Disfigurement
• Neck injury
• Burns

When someone is driving too fast, it’s difficult to control the car. In situations requiring sudden braking or maneuvering, the result is potentially fatal. Whether someone crashes into another vehicle from the rear, side, or head-on, it could cause a debilitating injury or death.

How Do I Prove The Other Driver Caused The Accident?

In the state of Georgia, fault and modified comparative fault rules determine liability in any car wreck. In situations where your injury resulted from the other driver speeding, you could hold them financially responsible.

Calling the police to the scene to write a traffic crash report is one of the most vital pieces of evidence to prove fault. An investigation reviews all factors contributing to the accident. If the officer determines the other motorist’s high rate of speed was the only cause, he or she will notate it on the report.

If someone else’s actions led to your injury, you’re able to seek the maximum compensation available in an insurance claim. However, if you share some of the responsibility, the modified comparative negligence rule becomes effective.

An equation determines how much money you could recover if you’re partly to blame. Your settlement decreases based on the percentage of fault determined from the accident. For example, if the other person was speeding, but you ran a red light contributing to 40% liability, you’re only allowed to receive up to 60% of the available compensation.

What Expenses Does An Insurance Settlement Cover?

In the state of Georgia, all drivers must carry liability insurance with a minimum of $25,000 bodily injury coverage. That reimburses victims of car accidents for damages they incur. Damages are losses suffered as a result of a traffic crash.

The economic damages you could claim from the at-fault party’s liability insurance include:

• Medical expenses: Bills related to the treatment of your injuries, such as physical therapy, surgery, hospital visits, and prescriptions.
• Vehicle repair or replacement: Costs to repair the damage to your vehicle resulting from the accident, or total replacement.
• Rental car: Auto rental if you need to leave yours at the repair shop.
• Lost wages: Pay you’re unable to earn because your injury prevents you from working.

You could also seek compensation for non-economic damages, which are intangible losses resulting from your injury, such as the following:

• Physical pain and suffering: Significant physical pain that affects your ability to perform routine tasks and enjoy the lifestyle you had before the crash.
• Emotional distress: Psychological or emotional trauma experienced that negatively impacts your overall happiness.
• Loss of affection or companionship: Family members could seek compensation based on how their relationship with the victim changed as a result of the accident.

If you believe the other person’s speeding was excessive, or other factors, such as driving drunk, also caused the accident, you could seek punitive damages. Punitive damages don’t exist to reimburse you for your economic and non-economic damages. Instead, they punish someone for their reckless behavior and aim to prevent it from happening again in the future. While caps don’t exist on most damages, Georgia law only allows up to $250,000 in punitive damages.

Do I Have To Report The Accident To My Insurance Company?

The short answer: no. You’re not legally required to report an auto accident to your insurance carrier. The law only requires that you report it to the police. However, you should notify your insurance carrier if you want to seek additional compensation.

While all drivers must purchase liability coverage, UM insurance is an option. UM, uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, provides compensation regardless of fault. Even if you share responsibility for the crash, you’re still allowed to file a UM claim.

If you get into an accident with someone who was speeding, you may need extensive treatment. Medical bills are expensive. The cost of physical therapy could reach thousands of dollars. If the speeding driver doesn’t carry liability insurance, or their bodily injury limit doesn’t cover your total expenses, your UM policy becomes beneficial.

Under UM insurance, you’re allowed to file a claim for reimbursement of necessary medical treatment, lost wages, and vehicle repair or replacement. Depending on the limits on your policy, you could potentially cover the remaining costs after using the other motorist’s bodily injury limits.

Should I Hire An Attorney?

It’s possible to handle your insurance claim on your own; however, it’s difficult for most people. If you’re unfamiliar with the process and don’t know your state’s laws, you won’t know how to maximize your settlement.

Insurance companies do everything in their power to pay out as little money as possible to claimants. If you don’t seek legal representation, they’ll take advantage of that and provide you with a low settlement offer. If you don’t know what you’re entitled to, you might feel compelled to accept much less than you deserve.

Hiring an experienced attorney from Chris Hudson Law Group will ensure you receive the financial compensation you deserve. We know how to perform an investigation and obtain evidence that proves the other driver caused your injuries.

When you hire us, we’ll file an insurance claim on your behalf and submit documentation to the adjuster. The most important evidence we’ll locate includes:

• Copy of the at-fault driver’s and your insurance policies
• Police reports
• Witness statements
• Video surveillance of the accident
• Photos of the crash site and vehicle damage
• Your medical records

Everything we find will get sent to the insurance adjuster assigned to the claim. It will be their job to review everything and determine liability. If they approve your claim, we’ll negotiate a settlement amount. It’s our goal to ensure you get reimbursed for all past costs and receive an additional financial award for necessary future expenses.

Contact A Car Accident Lawyer From Chris Hudson Law Group

The car accident lawyers at Chris Hudson Law Group in Augusta know that you never expected to be severely hurt in an accident. You also never anticipated the impact an accident could have on your life. That’s why we fight so hard on behalf of all of our clients. When you hire us, you will be a priority. We’re available 24/7, so you can reach us when you need us. You’ll never have to wait too long to get answers to your questions or schedule an appointment to meet with us.

We want to make the legal process as easy as possible. We know you’re overwhelmed. You might be struggling to pay your expenses and can’t afford a lawyer. At Chris Hudson Law Group in Augusta, we offer a free consultation to all prospective clients. Additionally, we work on contingency. You won’t have to pay any upfront costs or fees. We don’t get paid unless you get paid.

If a speeding driver caused your car accident, call us at (706) 863-6600 or submit your information using our contact form.