‘Speed Kills’: The Severe Toll Speeding Drivers Take on the California Drivers, Passengers, and Others Around Them
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Speed kills. We are seeing significant number of... deaths resulting from those drivers who are speeding." Those were the words of San Jose's mayor to ABC 7 recently. As state and local leaders weigh additional measures to tighten enforcement of speed limits, the harsh reality is that many speeding drivers have (and will) leave behind a wake of crashes, injuries, and, too often, deaths.
If you're the one harmed by a speeding driver, then it's worth your while to contact an experienced
San Mateo auto accident lawyer, as the legal system may allow you to obtain significant relief.
The mayor's cautionary words were likely relevant to a recent
fatal crash on Highway 101 in Sonoma County, where road construction near Healdsburg had slowed southbound traffic.
At least,
most of the traffic. According to CBS SF, a preliminary investigation revealed that the driver of a Dodge pickup apparently "was traveling at an unsafe speed for conditions as traffic ahead was slowing for roadway conditions." Police did not suspect that the Dodge driver had used drugs or alcohol before the crash.
Presumably going too fast to stop, the pickup truck slammed into not one but two vehicles: a Subaru and a Hyundai SUV. The impact was so significant that the SUV careened into a guardrail hard enough to bounce off it and back into the travel lanes, where it hit a Chevrolet pickup truck. The crash pushed the Subaru into a fifth car.
The crash left the rear passenger inside the Hyundai SUV -- a 25-year-old woman from Carlsbad -- dead at the scene.
What to Do After a Speeding Driver Has Hurt You in a Crash
If you're hurt -- or a loved one is killed -- because another driver was speeding, there may be several things you can do within the legal system. Of course, much of it starts with filing a lawsuit. Keep in mind that California law says you only have two years to file your action with the court, so acting swiftly is very important. Start by getting legal representation as quickly as you can, which will reduce your chances of having a filing deadline problem.
Another huge reason to retain counsel as soon as possible relates to what happens even before your trial. The faster you
hire your attorneys, the faster they can get crash scene investigators to the site. When an accident is a severe one or a multi-vehicle accident like the recent one in Sonoma County,
crash reconstruction specialists can help accumulate and preserve the proof needed to get a clear picture of what happened and then achieve a successful legal result.
Your attorney can also provide you with experienced-based advice about whether your case is something you should litigate to the end or possibly settle. In a serious accident, you may have the potential to collect damages for medical expenses, lost income, disfigurement, and
pain and suffering. Determining which of these will be a part of your case (and how much each might be worth) will help in deciding that settle-versus-litigate question.
That probably seems like a lot to take in... because it is. If you have just endured a serious accident (or an accident that took the life of a loved one,) your situation is a whirlwind of pain and stress. Under these difficult circumstances, look to a team of careful, thoughtful, and determined auto accident professionals to attend to your legal matters. The right recovery starts with the right pre-trial investigation, analysis, and calculation by your lawyer.
The skilled San Mateo auto accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Galine, Frye, Fitting & Frangos are here to provide you with the sort of experienced-based advice and hardworking advocacy upon which you can confidently rely.
We have many years of experience helping families like yours, so reach out to our helpful attorneys today. To set up a free consultation, contact us at 650-345-8484 or through our website.
