Nearly one-third of all fatal car accidents in the United States can be attributed to speeding. The role of speed cameras in reducing car accident cases includes holding reckless drivers accountable for their negligence. Combined with criminal penalties, these forms of accountability can help reduce repeat episodes of speeding and the number of accidents they cause.
Speed cameras play another important role. They help Florida car accident lawyers prove car accident liability and achieve financial recovery for injured victims. If you or a loved one was injured in a speeding accident, you can seek financial compensation starting with a free accident claim review.
The Introduction and Purpose of Speed Cameras in Florida
The introduction of speed cameras occurred in 1987 as a deterrent to increasing rates of accidents in Arizona. First introduced in a Eustis, Florida school district, speed cameras were implemented as a safety measure to warn and educate drivers about the dangers of speeding in school zones.
When clearly visible, these cameras could reduce speeding from the moment they are spotted. Once drivers are aware of the location of speed cameras, they may modify their driving behavior accordingly.
They can also discourage drivers who get caught and fined for speeding from becoming repeat offenders. Both of these examples of cause and effect can lead to a reduced number of speed-related driving accidents.
Speed and Speed-Related Traffic Accident Statistics for 2022
Speeding happens far too often and can include more than simply exceeding the posted speed limits. According to Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV) statistics, there were:
- 10,899 accidents caused by speeding drivers
- 4,129 caused by a combination of excessive speed and aggressive driving
These alarming statistics could be reduced with the increased use of speed cameras and radars. The use of speed cameras as a traffic calming tool can reduce the number of injury and fatal crashes.
What Drivers Need to Know About Speed Camera Effectiveness
A speed camera is a safety device that uses radar or other motion detectors to measure and track the speed of vehicles. Reliable traffic where each driver stays within the speed limit is one of the goals of cameras and speed limit signs. Speed safety cameras discourage drivers from exceeding the posted speed limit.
According to Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) data, additional ways speed camera programs can aid in car accident reduction include:
- Reduced incidences of speeding by as much as 82%
- Reduction in average speeds by up to 15%
- Fewer numbers of crashes and related injuries and traffic fatalities
Speeding is also a criminal offense that can result in a ticket and having points added to your driver’s license. The penalties for being caught by a speed camera can also be a deterrent to speeding, further reducing the number of accidents.
How Speed Cameras Help Reduce the Financial Toll of Accidents
Accidents caused by speeding cost approximately $46 billion in 2019. Drivers (typically via insurance coverage) can be compelled to pay the following damages to injured parties:
- Medical care expenses
- Lost wages
- Lost earning ability
- Property damage
- Property loss
- Disfigurement
- Impairment
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
- Wrongful death damages, if applicable
The number of accidents and resulting claims filed can also lead to increased insurance rates. This potentially costly penalty could also discourage drivers from exceeding the speed limit.
The Increased Risks and Severity of Speed-Related Car Accidents
When cars travel faster than the posted speed limit and the flow of traffic, they risk more forceful impacts when two vehicles collide. Drivers who speed experience reduced reaction times and limited stopping ability. For example, a car traveling at 60 mph requires significantly longer braking distances compared to one traveling at 30 mph.
These factors in combination can worsen the impact and outcome of an accident and lead to a subsequent increase in the accident’s financial aftermath. The benefits of speed cameras include:
- Situational awareness
- Improved road safety
Speed camera use can also include drawbacks like defenses based on alleged false readings or incorrectly calibrated cameras. A lawyer can combat these defenses and fight for your financial recovery.
Using Speed Camera Evidence to Strengthen a Car Accident Case
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) research cites the use of traffic enforcement cameras as a deterrent to speeding drivers, thereby reducing the number of accidents. It can support an injury claim by:
- Prove the other driver was speeding
- Document road conditions and traffic signs
- Prove you were obeying the speed limit
Evidence of these factors can be included in your case file. It can be hard to obtain this type of evidence on your own. The car accident attorney handling your claim may find it easier to access it on your behalf. Your case file may also contain police and medical records, accident scene photos and video, eyewitness and expert witness testimony, and accident reconstruction reports.
Car Accidents Claims Have a State-Mandated Filing Deadline
According to Florida Statutes § 95.11, you generally have two years to file your personal injury or wrongful death lawsuit. In cases where a government entity is involved, you could have only six months to notify them of your intent to seek damages. Per Florida Statutes § 768.28(6)(a)(1), your notice must be presented in writing.
Meeting the applicable filing deadline is mandatory. Failure to do so can put your claim in jeopardy of being dismissed out of hand, if you are allowed to file it at all. The best way to ensure your lawsuit is filed on time is to let a lawyer manage it for you.
Discuss Leveraging Speed Camera Evidence for Your Compensation Claim Today
If you or a loved one was injured in a recent accident caused by a speeding driver, you could be entitled to compensation. Our law firm can clarify the role of speed cameras in reducing car accident cases and their role in proving the cause of your accident.
You do not have to take on a speeding driver and their insurer alone. Contact our consultation team at the Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato for your free car accident claim consultation.
