St. Louis comprises over 30,000 residents who travel to work daily. Naturally, the city has ample traffic. Being at the intersection of three crucial interstate highways that bring tourists and travelers to the area, St. Louis is vulnerable to car crashes. Every accident leads to devastating consequences. Aggressive driving and speeding are two acute concerns in the city for vehicle collisions and need to be addressed.
Based on the Department of Public Safety and the Missouri State Highway Patrol, speeding is one of the prominent ‘probable contributing circumstances’ in dangerous crashes in the city. In terms of statistics, 41% of crashes occur because of speeding and about 25.2% because of drugs and alcohol. Last year there were nearly 19,516 crashes because of speeding in Missouri, which led to 395 fatalities and 2,995 injuries.
Therefore, people behind the wheel must know these facts and adhere to safe driving practices. Even the people who walk on the streets should follow traffic rules and be mindful of the passing cars. In this article, we will discuss the car accidents in St. Louis caused by speeding and the important preventive measures.
Speeding Driver Loses His Life After a Car Accident
Car accidents in St. Louis because of speeding cause both physical and emotional harm because it causes people to die. In April 2024, both KSDK and the St. Louis Post Dispatch reported on a 36-year-old man dying because of an accident on Plover Avenue, in St. Louis. The St. Louis Metropolitan Police Department officials reported that this fatal wreck took place in a house located in the 5200 block of the street.
The available details suggest that the victim was driving on Theodore Avenue at a very high speed. That made him lose his control, and the vehicle ran off the roadway and collided with a house. The first responders arrived at the scene and admitted the male driver to a local hospital. However, the injuries were severe and took his life. No one else got hurt in this accident.
There are similar accidents taking place in St. Louis that lead to massive injuries to drivers and pedestrians and also cause property damage. Drivers between 21 and 25 years contributed to the second-highest rate of deaths caused by speeding.
Car accidents caused by speeding can lead to severe injuries ranging from whiplash to broken bones. It can make a person lose their job for a while or perhaps a lifetime as well. Hence, if you encounter one, you must seek help from a car accident lawyer in St. Louis who will study your case, represent you in court, and ensure that the verdict is in your favor.
Is Missouri Taking Any Action to Minimize Speeding?
The state government of Missouri seems to be taking some steps to bring down the fatalities caused because of speeding. The Missouri Coalition for Roadway Safety’s Speed Awareness Campaign promotes the consequences and awareness of speeding and adhering to speed limits.
The state can place a fine on you depending on how quickly you travel over the established speed limit. If you travel 1 to 5 miles beyond the speed limit, you have to pay a fine amount of $50.50. On the other hand, traveling 20 to 25 miles beyond the speed limit maximizes the fine to almost $155. You might have to pay a steeper fine if you are guilty of speeding close to the construction zones.
Staying Safe While Dealing With Speeding Drivers: The Preventive Tips
Speeding can adversely impact the safety of road users, including bicyclists and pedestrians. The Automotive Association of America (AAA) and NHTSA have come up with guidelines that can be of help if you encounter speeding drivers. These include:
- Stay calm and courteous as you drive on the highways and streets of Missouri. That way, the chances are less for you to come across speeding drivers.
- Provide ample room to the speeding drivers if you can. These drivers tend to lose control of their vehicles and you should be at a secure distance when this takes place.
- If anyone is trying to pass you in the left lane, it’s best to merge to your next lane and allow them through.
- The moment a speeding driver follows you or attempts to tempt you to unsafe driving, take a judgment call and place your car away from any harm that might come your way.
Lastly, if you get confronted by a speeding driver, you need to get in touch with the police and report the incident.
Seeking Compensation For the Accident
There are times when you take every preventive measure but are still affected by a speeding driver and suffer from severe injuries. In such situations, you need to walk the legal path to get the compensation you deserve to cover the losses and suffering you’ve endured.
TorHoerman Law states that getting in touch with a lawyer is essential. They will assess your case and determine if you qualify to file a lawsuit. After that, they will guide you to collect the necessary evidence and use the same to develop a strong case so that you receive fair compensation without any delay. Since every case is different, your lawyer will update you on your settlement payout.
In conclusion, the streets of St. Louis are notorious for car crashes. Speeding has been held accountable as one of the prominent reasons for the crash. Therefore, drivers and pedestrians must maintain as much safety as possible while they are on the road.
Following the preventive measures can reduce the chances of a crash to a huge extent. That aside, it is also necessary to seek legal aid if you’ve encountered a crash and got affected with head and neck injuries, lacerations, ligament tears, broken bones, and the like.