Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC helps people that have been injured in car accidents in Louisville. Throughout the city and area, one thing that binds car accidents together are drivers rushing and speeding. This isn’t unique to Louisville, but it is unique to the challenges that come to you and your family after a car accident happens because someone was speeding. We can help you through the claims process. Set up a free consultation today to get started.
Does a Lawyer Make Sense After a Speeding Accident?
It’s not hard to figure out why speeding is such a dangerous move. Whether it’s on I-64, I-65, I-71, the Watterson Expressway, or a neighborhood road, driving too fast leaves very little room to react when something goes wrong.
But more to the point, it also means bigger collisions, greater impact, and often more serious injuries. Even still, you don’t have to get a lawyer. However, when you’re hurt, the last thing you need to deal with is an insurance company questioning everything. That’s when getting a lawyer makes sense, and our team can help you through this situation by:
- Explaining your options
- Gathering evidence and important information
- Figuring out who is responsible for your damages
- Handling the insurance companies for you
- Calculating what your claim is actually worth
- Filing a lawsuit if a fair settlement isn’t possible
Speeding is dangerous, and it’s against the law for a reason. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most common causes of serious accidents in Louisville. When you’re dealing with the aftermath of one of these accidents, it’s extremely confusing and painful. One way to ground yourself, though, is knowing what to look for and what comes next.
What Information Can Help a Speeding Car Accident Claim?
One thing that every car accident has in common is that there’s going to be information that’s needed if a claim needs to be made. Here’s what can really help you initially:
- Photos and videos of the accident scene, including vehicle damage, debris, skid marks, road conditions, traffic signs, and weather conditions
- Contact and insurance information for everyone involved
- Names and phone numbers of witnesses who saw the other driver speeding or driving aggressively
- Surveillance footage from nearby businesses, traffic cameras, or dashcams
- The official accident report prepared by the police officer (usually with LMPD or KSP)
- Medical records documenting your injuries and treatment
- Pay stubs or employment records showing missed time from work
- Estimates, invoices, and receipts related to vehicle repairs and other out-of-pocket expenses
The police report can be especially important in speeding-related accidents. While it doesn’t automatically determine fault, it does provide important details like:
- The officer’s observations about the scene
- Citations issued to the speeding driver
- Measurements of skid marks and vehicle positions
- Information about road and weather conditions
- The officer’s opinion about the speed and how it contributed to the accident
Obviously, every accident is different. Even though they happen for the same reasons, you’re trying to show how speeding caused your accident and what it’s left you dealing with. And a lot of these things aren’t going to be available right away. That makes the days and weeks after important.
Options For Getting Financial Help After a Speeding Car Accident
Because it’s so dangerous, speeding is one of the clearest forms of negligence there is. But that doesn’t necessarily tell you about all the realities of what these accidents bring—namely serious injuries, pain, stress, and car repairs. This is what makes up the core of your “damages”, or the financial support the law makes available to you.
To get these damages, though, you have to either file:
- An insurance claim outside of court.
- A personal injury lawsuit in court.
Insurance is usually the starting point. You get the other driver’s information and file a claim through their policy. That sounds easy, but insurance companies question everything—even in speeding accidents. That can lead to low settlement offers, which is where a lawsuit can come in. This takes the decision-making power out of the insurance company’s hands and into the hands of a judge and jury. That also leads to a fairer outcome, typically. You can get financial help for your:
- Medical bills
- Future medical treatment and rehabilitation
- Lost wages
- Reduced earning capacity
- Vehicle repairs or replacement costs
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional distress
- Loss of enjoyment of life
- Permanent disability or disfigurement
- Loss of companionship
- Wrongful death damages, when applicable
While every accident is different, the claims process works the same regardless of your circumstances. That includes the deadlines that are in place to file your claim in the first place. Kentucky law gives you one to two years from the date of the accident to file.
Who Pays for Damages After a Speeding Accident?
It’s worth repeating that speeding or driving aggressively is one of the most common reasons why car accidents happen so often here in Louisville. It’s not hard to see why: there’s less time to react, higher speeds make the car harder to control, and it’s simply reckless. That’s why it’s one of the clearest forms of negligence you’ll find in a car accident claim.
That makes the driver that’s speeding largely responsible for paying for your damages. But it’s not the only potential source for damages. Others could share responsibility if they also contributed to what happened. That usually brings in people like:
- The owner of the vehicle
- An employer, if the driver was working at the time of the accident
- A vehicle manufacturer if a defective part (like a stuck gas pedal) contributed to the collision
- A government agency responsible for unsafe road conditions
- Another driver whose actions helped cause the accident
Because every situation is different, who’s ultimately responsible for your damages is going to come down to what actually happened. In other words, the details are going to matter.
Where Speeding Accidents Happen the Most in Louisville
Every driver in Louisville has gone a little too fast at one point or another. You’ve even done it yourself. But the reality is that car accidents caused by speeding still have overall patterns. They happen in the same places again and again, like:
- Interstates like 64, 65, and 71.
- Waterson Expressway
- Bardstown Road
- Shelbyville Road
- Dixie Highway
- Preston Highway
Of course, while these see the majority of car accidents caused by speeding here, they can happen anywhere. Any time a driver is trying to rush through a neighborhood, speed through an intersection to beat a light, or simply aren’t paying attention through a construction or school zone, accidents aren’t far behind.
Talk to Our Louisville Speeding Accident Lawyers Today
Recovering from a serious car accident is difficult enough without having to fight with insurance companies or navigate Kentucky’s legal process on your own. If you were injured in a car accident caused by speeding here in Louisville, our team at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC is here to help. We’ll investigate the crash, explain your options, and work to recover the financial support you need to get better and move forward with your life. Set up a free consultation today to learn more about your options.
