Speeding Accidents in Los Angeles
Motor vehicles are always dangerous, but a speeding vehicle comes with an even greater risk of inflicting serious injuries in an automobile accident. The speed of a vehicle directly affects the severity of the crash.
If an individual in Los Angeles is speeding at the time of an accident, this could be proof that he or she is at fault and responsible for paying for your losses. A car accident attorney in Los Angeles can help you prove your case and fight for fair compensation.
What Constitutes Speeding?
Every road in Los Angeles has a speed limit, or a posted sign expressing the maximum speed that vehicles on the road may lawfully travel. “Speeding” can refer to exceeding these speed limits. However, a driver is also guilty of speeding if he or she is “driving too fast for conditions.” This can refer to a speed that is lower than the posted limit in dangerous conditions, such as bad weather or heavy traffic.
Penalties for Speeding in Los Angeles
If a driver is caught speeding in Los Angeles County, he or she can receive a ticket with a fine. This fine can range from around $35 for minor infractions to over $500 for extreme speeding. If a driver is exceeding 100 miles per hour, going more than double the posted speed limit, guilty of reckless driving or at fault for causing a car accident, speeding can turn into a felony charge.
In addition to a ticket and potential criminal charges, speeding can have civil penalties in California. If speeding causes a car accident, the driver guilty of the traffic violation can be held liable, or legally responsible, for the damage caused. The speeding driver will have to pay for the victim’s property damage and medical bills, typically using automobile insurance.
How to Prove Your Speeding Accident Case in Los Angeles
Under California’s fault-based insurance system, the driver at fault for causing a car accident is responsible for paying. However, it will be up to you as a victim to prove fault. This requires evidence of negligence, meaning the other driver owed you a duty of care, breached this duty by speeding and that this caused your car accident.
Proving fault in a car accident involving a speeding driver may take evidence such as:
- One or more speeding tickets on the driver’s record
- A police accident report listing a speeding citation
- The officer’s observations and estimated vehicle speeds
- Eyewitness statements
- Physical evidence, such as vehicle damage and the length of the debris field
- Surveillance or dashcam footage
- A vehicle’s black box
- GPS or ridesharing app data
- Car accident reconstruction by specialists
If you are the filing party in a car accident case, you need evidence of the other driver’s fault to receive financial compensation for your losses. The strength of your evidence can determine the outcome of your speeding accident case. An experienced personal injury attorney in Los Angeles can help you prove your car accident claim by investigating the crash, gathering evidence of speeding and hiring relevant experts.
When to Contact an Attorney
Sadly, speeding accidents can cause significant injuries, including multiple broken bones, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries and crush injuries. If you are trying to pick up the pieces and recover after this type of crash in Los Angeles, waste no time in seeking assistance from a local car accident lawyer. Your claim may be worth substantially more than a car insurance company initially offers you. Working with an attorney can help you optimize both your physical and financial recovery. Contact Rose, Klein & Marias LLP today for a free case review.