Speed plays a vital role in the outcome of a South Bend car accident, from the amount of vehicle damage to the severity of your injuries. Higher speeds increase the risk of a dangerous crash, leaving victims with catastrophic and fatal injuries in a matter of seconds.
At Pfeifer Morgan & Stesiak, our South Bend car crash attorneys have seen firsthand the amount of damage a high-speed crash leaves behind. We help injured victims every day, including those with life-altering injuries caused by reckless drivers. Our legal team has decades of experience, and we are deeply committed to holding at-fault parties financially accountable for their negligence. When we represent you, we fight for the full and fair compensation you need and deserve to help you recover your losses and move forward.
Contact us today or fill out our online case form. Our staff are available to take your call anytime, night or day, to learn more about your situation and discuss your legal options.
Request a FREE case review today. Call: (574) 444-0741
How Does Speed Increase the Severity of a Car Crash?
Speed increases the severity of a collision because a vehicle traveling faster hits with much stronger force during impact. This extra force has more power to crush your vehicle, and that increased energy gets transferred directly into your body. Higher speeds give you less time to see danger ahead and react properly, as your car needs much longer distances to stop safely when traveling at higher speeds.
High-speed crashes cause much more physical damage than vehicles traveling at posted speed limits. Even going “just a little faster” can have a significant impact on the severity of your injuries. A crash at 50 mph creates far more damage to your body than the same crash at 25 mph. The difference between minor injuries and life-threatening damage often depends on how fast the vehicles were traveling before the crash.
What Happens to Your Body During High-Speed Collisions?
Your body keeps moving forward at the original speed even after your car stops during a crash. This sudden stop forces your body to slam into seatbelts, airbags, and parts of your car interior. Your head whips forward and backward violently, injuring your neck and potentially causing brain damage from the impact.
Even with seatbelts and airbags, high-speed crashes cause severe injuries that take months or years to heal. Your spine can compress or break, leading to paralysis or chronic back problems that affect daily activities. Internal bleeding from damaged organs often requires emergency surgery and extended hospital stays. The faster the vehicle was traveling, the more violent these injuries become and the longer your recovery takes.
Do South Bend’s Roads Make Speed-Related Crashes More Severe?
South Bend’s busiest roads, like US Route 31 and State Route 23 are especially high-risk for commuters during rush hour congestion. The combination of impatient drivers and heavy traffic creates hazardous situations where people drive too fast for conditions. Construction zones along these major routes make matters worse due to the sudden speed changes that can catch distracted or fatigued drivers off guard and increase the risk of a high-speed crash.
Winter weather in Indiana makes speeding even more deadly when ice and snow reduce tire traction. Drivers who speed on wet or icy roads cannot stop in time if traffic slows down unexpectedly ahead, and speeding drivers who try to stop may spin out of control. These and other circumstances create a dangerous combination of factors that can very quickly lead to a catastrophic crash with life-altering injuries.
How Police Determine Speed Caused Your Car Crash
South Bend police officers use several investigation techniques to determine if excessive speed contributed to your car crash. They collect physical evidence from the crash scene and analyze vehicle damage patterns to calculate how fast the cars were traveling.
Police Investigation Methods:
- Skid Mark Analysis: Officers measure tire marks on the pavement to calculate how fast vehicles were traveling before impact.
- Vehicle Damage Assessment: The severity and location of car damage reveals the speed and angle of collision forces.
- Crash Scene Measurements: Police document the final resting positions of vehicles to determine impact speeds and directions.
- Witness Statements: Officers interview people who saw the crash happen to gather information about vehicle speeds before the collision.
- Traffic Camera Footage: Video evidence from nearby intersections and businesses shows actual vehicle speeds before the crash occurred.
- Electronic Data Retrieval: Modern cars record speed data that police can download from vehicle computer systems after crashes.
How Speed Affects Your Car Crash Compensation
Speed directly affects your compensation amount because higher speeds cause more severe injuries that require expensive medical treatment. Faster crashes have the possibility of creating broken bones, brain injuries, and internal damage that can lead to larger hospital bills and longer recovery times. Insurance companies must pay more money when speed-related crashes cause permanent disabilities that prevent you from working normally. Indiana courts also consider speed violations when determining fault and calculating how much compensation you deserve for your injuries.
The other driver’s speed can significantly increase your compensation if their speeding caused your crash. However, if police determine you were also speeding, Indiana’s comparative negligence laws could reduce your compensation. This makes legal representation crucial to protect your right to full compensation for medical bills and lost wages.
Evidence That Proves High-Speed Crashes
Our Pfeifer Morgan & Stesiak car crash lawyers gather specific types of evidence to prove high speeds caused your injuries and maximize your compensation claim. This evidence helps establish liability and demonstrates the connection between excessive speed and your damages in Indiana courts.
Legal Evidence for High-Speed Crash Claims:
- Medical Records: Hospital documentation showing injury patterns consistent with high-speed collision forces and impact trauma.
- Expert Witness Testimony: Accident reconstruction specialists who testify about vehicle speeds and collision dynamics in court proceedings.
- Cell Phone Records: Data showing the other driver was texting or talking while speeding before the crash occurred.
- Employment Records: Evidence that commercial drivers faced pressure to speed or violated company safety policies during work hours.
- Vehicle Maintenance History: Records proving brake failures or tire problems contributed to speed-related crashes and driver negligence.
- Business Surveillance Video: Security cameras from nearby stores and restaurants that captured vehicles speeding before the collision.
- Traffic Citation History: Previous speeding tickets that establish a pattern of reckless driving behavior by the at-fault driver.
- Economic Loss Documentation: Financial records proving how speed-related injuries affected your ability to work and earn income.
When You Should Contact a South Bend Car Crash Lawyer About Speed
Contact a South Bend car crash lawyer immediately if you suspect a speeding driver caused your collision. Police reports that mention speeding violations, skid marks at the crash scene, or severe vehicle damage indicate speed played a role. Insurance companies often try to deny speed-related claims, making legal representation essential for protecting your compensation rights.
The statute of limitations in Indiana requires prompt action to preserve evidence and file your claim before deadlines expire. The sooner you contact Pfeifer Morgan & Stesiak, the better we can investigate your crash and gather proof that speed caused your injuries. Our legal team knows how to counter insurance company tactics and build strong cases that secure maximum compensation for South Bend crash victims.
Injured in a High-Speed Crash? Contact Our Trusted Pfeifer Morgan & Stesiak Car Accident Lawyers Today
At Pfeifer Morgan & Stesiak, we have a proven track record of securing favorable compensation for injured victims throughout Indiana. Our experienced South Bend car accident attorneys investigate every detail of your collision to prove how excessive speed contributed to your injuries.
Contact us today or complete our online form for a free consultation about your injury claim. We handle insurance negotiations and court proceedings while you focus on healing.
Need Legal Help? Call Our Trusted Law Firm Today. (574) 444-0741
