When a car accident occurs, the speed of the vehicles involved directly impacts the severity of the crash. Even a difference of a few miles per hour can alter the outcome of an accident, leading to life-changing injuries.

In Michigan, you can seek compensation if you are injured in a collision where another driver was speeding. The Michigan car accident lawyers at Fieger Law can help you seek maximum compensation after a speed-related crash.

What the Facts Say About Speed and Car Crash Injuries

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the risk of a crash and subsequent injury increases as a vehicle’s speed increases. In 2021, close to a third (29%) of all traffic fatalities were speed-related, resulting in 12,330 deaths in the U.S.

Speeding is a major concern for Michigan drivers and law enforcement. From December 1, 2022, to February 28, 2023, Michigan law enforcement agencies even implemented overtime speed enforcement to combat speed-related accidents in the state.

According to the Michigan State Police, there were 24,721 speed-related crashes in 2021. That number increased about 9% in 2022, when speeding was listed as a hazardous action in 26,996 crashes and 209 fatal crashes. Reckless driving, which often involves speeding, was also listed as a cause in 93 fatal accidents and 2,491 reported collisions in 2022.

When you suffer injuries in a speed-related crash, Fieger Law can protect your rights. Our attorneys can represent your interests when filing a claim against the responsible party to help you receive compensation to pay for medical bills, replace lost wages, and fix your property, including your vehicle and any personal items inside the vehicle, that was damaged by their reckless actions.

We can also help you seek non-economic damages, such as for pain and suffering. This can provide restitution for the physical pain and emotional and mental harm you may have suffered as a result of your crash.

Impact of Speed on Accident Victim Injuries

When you are injured in a speed-related crash, you may suffer serious injuries such as spinal cord injuries, traumatic brain injuries, or permanent disfigurement. The risk of this type of life-altering injury is greater in crashes involving high speeds.

Kinetic energy created by a moving vehicle increases with its speed. For vehicles traveling at a high speed, this can quadruple the force generated on impact with another object. This is especially true for crashes on highways and interstates, which have a high probability of multiple traumatic injuries.

However, even at lower speeds, collisions can cause serious damage to vehicle passengers and pedestrians, including soft tissue injuries. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS), increasing speed from just 40 mph to 50 mph showed an increased risk of severe neck injury.

Speed is a major factor in injury severity for pedestrians hit by a vehicle. In a 2021 IIHS report, 48% of pedestrian deaths in urban areas occurred on roads with a speed limit of 40 mph or less.

Speeding is not only dangerous; it’s against the law in Michigan. If you or a loved one has been injured in a crash due to a speeding driver, you can work with an attorney from Fieger Law to understand your rights.

Our lawyers can help you file a claim for benefits under your personal injury protection insurance and seek additional compensation from the driver who caused your injuries.

We can obtain evidence, such as GPS or black box data, police reports, witness testimony, dash cam footage, and accident reconstructions that show the other driver’s speed contributed to your injuries and win you the compensation you deserve.

Speed, Crashes, and Your Legal Rights

Whether you’re dealing with an injury that leaves you needing weeks to recover or are facing a long-term, life-altering injury as a result of a high-speed collision, you don’t have to navigate the complex legal landscape alone. Our attorneys at Fieger Law can help you understand your rights, gather necessary evidence, and fight on your behalf for compensation.

We’ve won millions in compensation for car accident victims across the U.S., including a $17,500,000 settlement for a crash victim injured by another’s gross negligence and $8,650,000 for a victim who suffered due to auto negligence.

Contact Fieger Law today to schedule your free case review and explore your legal options for receiving compensation for your injuries.