Most car accidents in the U.S. occur under 40 miles per hour, often in high-density, start-and-stop traffic. When you drive comfortably, you likely feel safe enough to check your phone, talk to passengers, adjust your GPS, or otherwise engage in distracted driving. However, when you take your eyes off the road in that split second, you could run into any number of avoidable accidents.
Additionally, at higher speeds, your brain naturally pays more attention to the road and reacts more quickly to potential hazards. Lower speeds induce the opposite effect. You grow more complacent and react more slowly to danger, which can lead to careless fender-benders or other low-speed crashes and vehicle damage.
Even though drivers get into high-speed accidents less frequently, they cause more serious injuries or fatalities due to the great force of impact. Speed limits try to reduce the possibility of these accidents.
What Can You Do to Minimize Your Risk of an Accident?
To reduce your chance of getting involved in an accident as much as possible, always drive at a safe and appropriate speed for the conditions. Obey all posted speed limits, adjust your speed in inclement weather conditions or poor visibility, and always maintain a safe following distance.
Refrain from texting, eating, and holding in-depth conversations while on the road or engaging in distracted driving. If you feel tired, ask someone else to take your place or pull over to rest.
If you need to commute in metropolitan cities, consider using public transportation.
What Role Does Speed Play in Determining Fault in a Car Accident?
When investigators and insurance companies receive a collision report, they immediately try to determine the speed at which the vehicles travel. If one of the vehicles drove above the speed limit or too fast for the road conditions, the court could hold them liable or partially liable for the accident. In New Jersey courts, this liability matters because of the comparative negligence law, where the court could reduce your payout if you were partially at fault for the collision.
However, if you drove at a reasonable speed for the conditions and got into the accident regardless, your adherence to speed limits could lessen any potential liability on your part, strengthen your case, and increase your insurance payout.
Protect Your Rights With a Mount Holly Car Accident Lawyer at the Law Office of David S. Rochman
No matter your speed, the aftermath of any car accident can feel stressful and overwhelming. If you do find yourself in an accident and need legal guidance for the aftermath, contact a Mount Holly car accident lawyer at the Law Office of David S. Rochman. Call our Mount Laurel, New Jersey office at 856-751-2345 or fill out our online contact form for a free consultation. We serve clients in Burlington County and the surrounding areas.