San Antonio Speeding Accident Lawyer
Holding drivers who speed accountable for Texas car accidents
Speeding is a leading cause of accidents in San Antonio. Every driver has a duty to understand the speed limit for each road or highway they travel on. Speeding isn’t just confined to exceeding the posted speed limits. Speeding also includes driving too fast for weather conditions or for traffic conditions. There’s no justification for speeding. Getting home, getting to work, running an errand, or any task can wait. The safety of everyone on the road – drivers, passengers, pedestrians, and bicycle riders – must always come first.
At the Law Offices of Pat Maloney, we are skilled at showing how fast a driver was going and why a driver’s excessive speeding caused your injuries or the death of a loved one. San Antonio car accident attorney Maloney is a Certified personal injury specialist with 40 years of experience, and our firm has served this community for 70 years. We’re respected by former clients, insurance companies, and defense lawyers for our impressive record of settlements and verdicts including many results for more than one million dollars.
Frequently Asked Questions
- How dangerous is speeding?
- Why does speeding cause accidents?
- Why do drivers speed in San Antonio?
- What types of accidents do speeding drivers cause?
- How can your San Antonio lawyer show that a driver was speeding?
- Who is responsible for a speeding accident in San Antonio?
- What types of injuries do speeding accidents cause?
- Do you have a speeding accident lawyer near me?
How dangerous is speeding?
Speeding is one of the top causes of traffic accidents, including fatal accidents, in San Antonio and across the nation. According to the National Safety Council (NSC), 29 percent of all traffic fatalities in 2021 were due to speeding, killing 12,300 people.
The NSC states that in 2021, speeding due to driving too fast for conditions was a factor in the following types of deadly crashes:
- Dry roads: 18%
- Wet roads: 22%
- Snowy or slushy roads: 32%
- Moving or standing water (usually due to rain) : 38%
- Mud, gravel, or dirt: 43%
According to the Texas Department of Transportation, in 2022, speeding caused 1,265 fatal crashes, nearly 5,000 serious injuries, and more than 40,000 possible injuries.
Why does speeding cause accidents?
Speeding is dangerous for many reasons:
- Drivers have less time to respond to emergency situations than slower drivers.
- Speeding drivers need more time and distance to stop.
- Speeding affects the ability of guardrails, median dividers, and other road structures to protect the drivers.
- A reduced ability of airbags and seatbelts to work effectively.
- A reduced ability to control the car.
Collisions at higher speeds have more force and impact than accidents at slower speeds. This means drivers, passengers, and people outside the vehicle who are involved in a San Antonio speeding accident are more likely to suffer catastrophic injuries such as traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries including paralysis, traumatic amputations, burn injuries, broken bones, internal organ damage, and nerve damage.
To place some perspective on the dangers of speeding – know that a car traveling at 60 mph is going nearly 90 feet per second. In just a few seconds, a speeding driver can cause a serious crash with devastating results.
Why do drivers speed in San Antonio?
Drivers speed for all sorts of reasons, but the primary one, we believe, is this: they don’t think anything will happen to them if they do. They don’t believe they can get hurt or that they can hurt others, or that they’ll face penalties if “everyone else is doing it.” Common causes usually include:
- They’re late. Many drivers speed to get to work on time, to beat the rush hour traffic, to get to a sporting event or entertainment event before it starts, or for other personal reasons.
- The traffic is congested. Many drivers weave in and out of traffic lanes or travel faster than they should to navigate through all the slow traffic.
- They’re under the influence. Intoxicated drivers often are not aware of how fast they’re driving or how much of a danger they are to others. Drivers under the influence of a controlled substance also speed with no knowledge of how fast they’re going.
- They’re distracted. Very common reasons for speeding in this technology age are texting while driving, talking while driving, or looking at a GPS. Distracted drivers don’t have their eyes on traffic or the speedometer.
- They’re inexperienced. Many teenagers are excited to be “free” from their parents and chores while they’re driving with friends. Teens are often tempted to show how fast their car is without appreciating the dangers that one second’s misjudgment on the road can bring.
A lot of folks simply don’t act as though speeding is that big of a deal – but it is. Speeding is negligent and reckless, and it puts other people in harm’s way.
What types of accidents do speeding drivers cause?
Speeding drivers in San Antonio cause many types of single-vehicle accidents, multi-vehicle accidents, and accidents with non-drivers. These accident types include:
- Rear-end accidents
- Head-on crashes
- Broadside accidents
- Intersection accidents
- Accidents with pedestrians
- Accidents with bicycle riders
- Merging accidents
- Passing accidents
- Rollover accidents
- Work zone accidents
Anyone injured by a speeding driver in an accident can file a claim to seek compensation for their losses. The families of anyone who is killed by a speeding driver can file a wrongful death claim against that driver.
How can your San Antonio lawyer you show that a driver was speeding?
At the Law Offices of Pat Maloney, we work with the police, investigators, and traffic reconstruction experts (if necessary) to show a driver was speeding. We also formally question all the other drivers, passengers, and non-drivers who may have information about how the accident occurred.
Evidence of speeding may include:
- Police radar
- Tire tracks
- The severity of the damage to the vehicles
- The testimony of various witnesses including you
- Truck drivers may have black boxes that note how fast they were traveling
- Other evidence depending on how the accident occurred
Who is responsible for a speeding accident in San Antonio?
Every driver has a duty to control his/her car. Drivers who cause an accident due to speeding or driving too fast for traffic or weather conditions deserve to be held liable for your medical bills, pain and suffering, lost income, property damage, any loss of bodily function, any scarring or disfigurement, or any other damages.
In addition to the driver, we may file claims against:
- An employer of the driver
- A trucking company
- The owner(s) of the car if different than the driver
- A seller or provider of alcohol if the speeding driver was a minor or visibly intoxicated when the liquor was sold and the drunken state caused the accident
- A liable third party
What types of injuries do speeding accidents cause?
Speeding accidents often cause serious, permanent, and/or catastrophic injuries. Our team works with your physicians and our own network of doctors to verify what injuries you have, what medical treatments are required, and every way the injuries make your life much more difficult.
Common injuries from speeding accidents include:
- Spinal cord damage and paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries and head trauma
- Traumatic amputations
- Burn injuries
- Fractures/broken bones
- Crush injuries including organ damage
- Back, neck, and shoulder pain
- Nerve, tissue, ligament, and muscle damage
Do you have a speeding accident lawyer near me?
The Law Offices of Pat Maloney is located at 239 E Commerce St. in the center of Downtown San Antonio, TX. Our firm owns what many consider one of the most beautiful and historic buildings in San Antonio. There are lots of parking spaces nearby. If you cannot travel, we will arrange a phone or video conference, or an in-hospital visit.
Our team has helped countless numbers of personal injury victims just like you.
Speak with or experienced San Antonio speeding accident lawyer today
If you were injured or a loved one died due to a speeding driver, you have the right to hold that driver accountable. At the Law Offices of Pat Maloney, we understand how devastating injuries are. They rob you of your health, happiness, ability to work, and ability to care for yourself and your family. We’re ready to help you now. We prepare each case for trial – though many cases do settle. We’ll guide you through each phase of the claims process.
To speak with a seasoned San Antonio speeding accident lawyer, call us or fill out our contact form to schedule a free consultation. We handle personal injury cases on a contingency fee basis.