Speeding and the Risk of Motorcycle Accidents
Automobile accidents are a leading cause of injury and financial loss in the United States. The most effective way to minimize the risk of a car accident is to practice safe and defensive driving measures. Unfortunately, countless drivers regularly speed because they don’t recognize the dangers of this habit.
Individuals involved in motorcycle accidents involving speeding are at even more of a risk because a motorcycle offers none of the safety measures provided by a car. People in the Salt Lake City, UT, and Provo, UT, area who have been injured in a motorcycle accident involving speeding can work with motorcycle accident attorney Lynn C. Harris to seek financial compensation for resulting damages.
Speeding and Accident Risk
One of the greatest dangers of speeding is that it increases the risk of a car or motorcycle accident. Most people feel as though they are in full control of their vehicle no matter how fast they are driving.
More Difficult to Maneuver
However, it becomes increasingly difficult to control and maneuver a vehicle as its speed increases. Speeding is particularly dangerous when traveling through a curve, making a turn, or changing lanes.
Reducing Reaction Time
Another way that speeding increases the risk of an accident is by reducing a driver’s reaction time. Circumstances on the road can change suddenly. Drivers and motorcyclists should always be prepared to respond to obstacles in the road or the actions of other drivers. The faster a vehicle is traveling, the less time a driver has to consider his or her best course of action.
Slower Stop Times
Finally, accidents are more likely when a driver is speeding because speeding increases the amount of time necessary to stop the vehicle. Whether someone is operating a heavy truck, a car, or a lighter motorcycle, the faster the vehicle is traveling, the more distance it will cover before it is able to come to a complete stop.
Speeding and Accident Damages
Speeding is also dangerous because it can increase the degree of injury and damages in accidents that do occur. The impact of an accident is determined by the weight of the vehicles involved and the rate of speed they are traveling at the time of the accident. The faster a car or motorcycle is speeding, the greater the impact of a collision.
A motorcyclist is already likely to sustain more injury and damage in an accident because motorcycles weigh less than most other vehicles on the road, and they do not have any safety features that protect the rider. Those who are involved in a motorcycle accident involving speeding may suffer from catastrophic injuries that result in losses such as pain and suffering, medical expenses, and lost wages.
Speeding and Accident Liability
Speeding is recognized as a type of reckless driving. In most cases, if a driver is speeding at the time of an accident, he or she will be found liable for the collision and any resulting damages. Even if other factors contribute to the accident, a speeding driver may be found partially liable.
Attorney Lynn C. Harris will work alongside experts in the field to prove liability in motorcycle accidents involving speeding so that clients can be compensated to the full extent of the law.
Contact Us
Attorney Lynn C. Harris works on behalf of accident victims to collect compensation for both financial and non-financial damages. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident and would like to learn how we can help, contact us at your earliest convenience, or call (801) 609-8902 to set up a consultation. We serve clients in Salt Lake City and Provo.
