Injured by a Speeding Driver in Port Charlotte? Here's What You Need to Know
Bryan Greenberg
Accident Lawyers
Driving in Southwest Florida, the semi-tropical landscape and Gulf Beaches that brought many people from around the country to live in Port Charlotte in the first place, can be easily drowned out by the roar of speeding cars. With speed limits ranging from a meager 15 MPH in school zones to a daunting 70 MPH on interstates, and everything in between on Tamiami Trail, drivers are constantly tasked with adjusting their pace.Florida's Department of Transportation sets these speed limits, primarily to reduce accidents, including common occurrences like rear-end collisions and pedestrian incidents. Despite these precautions, however, speeding continues to be a major problem on our roads, leading to serious and often devastating accidents.
In Port Charlotte, this issue becomes magnified with some streets and intersections presenting a higher risk. Roads like the Tamiami Trail or Veterans Boulevard, frequently teeming with traffic, often witness drivers exceeding speed limits, becoming a cause for concern.
Speed and Its Role in Florida Car Accidents
Drivers are legally obliged to know the speed limit of the roads they use. A speed limit violation can severely impact an injury claim should there be a crash. Insurance companies are quick to attribute speed as a contributing cause of an accident, frequently using this factor to deny or reduce claims.
Excessive Speed
Exceeding the speed limit is a significant cause of fatal speed-related accidents. High-speed crashes are often severe, sometimes involving deadly single-vehicle incidents. Insurance companies may deny your claim by arguing that you were negligent in violating traffic laws. Streets like Midway Boulevard and Harbor Boulevard in Port Charlotte, for example, have witnessed such incidents.
Failure to Maintain Reasonable Speed
Drivers often argue that exceeding the speed limit is necessary when the surrounding traffic is moving faster. While this argument may seem valid, it does not exempt a driver from potential violations or accident liability. Moreover, driving faster than the speed limit in areas like Murdock Circle or Olean Boulevard in Port Charlotte may increase the risk of a collision.
Driving Too Slow
Surprisingly, driving below the speed limit often leads to more accidents than speeding. Statistics demonstrate that driving even 10 MPH slower than the surrounding traffic significantly increases accident risk. For example, if you drive at 60 MPH on Kings Highway, with surrounding cars moving at 70 MPH, your chances of being involved in an accident significantly increase.
Navigating The Fallout Of Speed-Related Accidents in Port Charlotte
In Florida, and specifically in Port Charlotte, accident claims undergo a rigorous process. Both the police and insurance investigators conduct investigations, along with lawyers and accident specialists representing the victims. Insurance defense lawyers and adjusters often cite speed as a reason to deny or reduce damage claims.
Determining the vehicle's speed at the time of the accident requires scientific analysis, including analyzing skid marks, interviewing witnesses, and potentially retrieving data from the vehicle's event data recorder. This lengthy process can leave victims awaiting confirmation of whether speed was a contributing factor to their accident.
The Path Forward Getting Compensation
If you've been injured in a speed-related car accident in Port Charlotte, it's crucial to consult an experienced personal injury lawyer before filing a claim. Legal professionals can provide valuable insight into the potential issues that may arise with these claims, including the type of evidence needed and the possible damages you can recover.
At the All Injuries Law Firm, we are dedicated to assisting victims of speed-related accidents. Our team, led by experienced personal injury lawyers at All Injuries, offers a free initial consultation to answer your questions and guide you through the complex process of filing an accident claim. In Port Charlotte, amidst the risk of high-speed accidents, it's crucial to know your rights and options, and we are here to provide the support you need.