If you’ve been hurt in a speeding accident in Middletown, New York, call Rolo Law Personal Injury Lawyers at (845) 383-7790 to schedule a free consultation with a Middletown car accident lawyer from our firm. You could be entitled to compensation for your losses, and our team can help.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding is a leading cause of traffic deaths. This behavior is also a local problem. Speeding accidents are prevalent in Middletown and have resulted in numerous injuries and fatalities. A Middletown personal injury attorney can help you understand your right to compensation after a crash.
How Rolo Law Personal Injury Lawyers Can Help After a Speeding Accident In Middletown, NY
Our law firm in Middletown, NY, has recovered millions of dollars from insurance companies and at-fault drivers in car accident cases. The team at Rolo Law Personal Injury Lawyers has over 40 years of combined legal experience negotiating settlements and fighting for car accident victims like you.
Our Middletown personal injury lawyers provide the following legal services when you or a loved one suffers a serious injury in a crash caused by another driver:
- Listening to your story and educating you about your rights under New York law
- Gathering documents and other evidence to build a case
- Preparing your insurance claim and negotiating with the insurer to settle it
- Filing a lawsuit against the negligent driver if their insurer denies your claim
High-speed crashes can cause devastating injuries. Contact us to schedule a free consultation with a Middletown car accident attorney to discuss your crash and the compensation you may be entitled to seek for your injury-related losses and costs.
How Does New York Define Speeding?
Generally, a driver speeds in New York when they drive faster than is “reasonable and prudent” based on the present conditions and without regard to any potential or actual hazards. New York law also sets a maximum speed limit of 55 miles per hour unless a present hazard requires a lower speed or an authorized entity (e.g., a local government) has set a different limit.
Effects of Speeding in Middletown
Drivers speed all the time. However, speeding will not automatically cause an accident. Instead, it increases both the risk and severity of crashes. Finally, high-speed crashes are more likely to cause catastrophic injuries, like brain injuries and spinal cord injuries, than low-speed collisions.
Additionally, drivers who speed have less time to respond to avoid a hazard. For example, a speeding driver might approach vehicles stopped at a light so quickly that they cannot stop in time to avoid a rear-end collision.
Speeding can also exacerbate other driving errors. For instance, distracted drivers have already deprived themselves of precious time by diverting their attention to non-driving activities. If they also speed, they reduce their margin to avoid a crash even more.
When Is a Speeding Driver Liable for Crash Victims’ Damages?
New York’s no-fault insurance law only allows injured road users to seek compensation from at-fault drivers when their losses exceed their no-fault benefits or they suffer serious injuries.
A serious injury is defined under New York law to mean:
- Death
- Loss of a body part
- Significant disfigurement
- Fracture
- Loss of a fetus
- Permanent loss of use of an organ, body function, or body system
- Permanent disability of a body organ or member
- Significant limitation of a body function or system
- Non-permanent injury that prevents all usual daily activities for at least 90 out of 180 days following the accident
Those who meet these criteria can seek compensation by proving that the other driver acted negligently in causing their injuries. Negligence means the person acted without the care expected of a reasonably cautious driver. Speeding could be a factor in proving the other driver’s negligence in a car crash.
How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Car Accident Lawyer?
Nothing up front. At our firm, we handle car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. This means that you will not owe us any attorney’s fees upfront for us to begin working on your case. In fact, you will only pay us legal fees if we successfully secure a settlement or court award in your case.
If we do not win your case, you owe us nothing for our time and effort. Our fee is a percentage of the compensation we recover on your behalf. This structure allows you to focus on your recovery without the added worry of legal costs.
Contact Our Middletown Car Accident Lawyers for a Free Consultation
Speeding is almost always preventable and, therefore, often results in liability for any crashes that cause serious injuries. Contact Rolo Law Personal Injury Lawyers for a free consultation to learn how our Middletown car accident lawyers can help after a speeding crash. You could be entitled to compensation for the injuries caused by another driver’s careless or aggressive driving.
