Speeding causes devastating accidents throughout the U.S., including California. Speed is, in fact, one of the most significant factors when it comes to injury severity after an accident.
Whether you drive on a freeway or rural road, high speeds will drastically increase the risk of severe injuries in an accident. It also increases the likelihood of fatality.
Think about it this way: Your body travels 65 miles per hour (as an example), just like your vehicle. Your car and your body will absorb a major impact if there is an abrupt crash.
The faster you drive, the harsher this impact will be. This means extreme or catastrophic injuries, excessive property damage, and even death.
The Connection Between Speed and Injury Severity
When your car accelerates, so does the kinetic energy it generates. When an accident happens, this kinetic energy is discharged, causing a more powerful impact and greater damage.
Kinetic energy is proportional to speed: even a minor acceleration can cause far higher energy and, therefore, a much more serious crash.
Moreover, driving too fast decreases your ability to see and respond to hazards on the road. This is because as your speed increases, the distance you cover in the time it takes you to recognize and react to a hazard also increases.
Most Common Injuries in High-Speed Crashes
The faster you drive, the more the forces involved in an accident will hurt you. Different parts of your body can suffer severe harm:
Head and Brain Injuries
When you abruptly crash your car, you may hit your head hard. When this happens, your brain may collide with the skull as the car decelerates. This is what causes concussions or serious traumatic brain injuries.
A high-impact crash also increases the risk of a skull fracture, which can cause your brain to swell and hemorrhage. If the bleeding is intense or excessive, there is a risk that you will bleed to death.
It is also possible that you may suffer a diffuse axonal injury. This happens when the brain violently shifts within the skull, tearing nerve fibers in the process. A DAI typically results in permanent disability or a coma.
Spinal Cord and Neck Injuries
Even if you are not driving as fast, the back-and-forth movement of your neck during a crash can strain the ligaments and bruise the soft tissues.
If you crash at high speed, you may suffer a spinal cord injury or dislocation that could potentially result in paralysis.
Thoracic Injuries
The impact may force your steering wheel into your body if you are involved in a head-on crash. This can puncture your lungs as your ribs fracture or break. This type of injury may also sever major blood vessels.
The force of impact can collapse one or both lungs, making it impossible for you to breathe. You may also suffer bruises to your lungs.
Some high-speed crashes that cause blunt trauma to the chest also affect the heart. If you are in an accident that severely injures your chest, your heart may suffer damage as well. This can lead to cardiac arrest, which is often fatal.
Abdominal and Internal Organ Damage
Your seatbelt is an integral safety measure. Unfortunately, in a high-speed crash, your seatbelt can exacerbate your injuries. A forceful impact can make your seatbelt rip into your body. If this happens, you may suffer liver and spleen lacerations, which can cause internal bleeding.
It is also possible for a serious car crash to cause blunt trauma to your intestines, resulting in bowel perforation. This is seen as an emergency because a ruptured bowel can cause serious infection in your body.
Your kidneys are also vulnerable to direct impact in a crash, especially because they are situated in your lower back. A serious rear-end crash can mean extensive damage to these sensitive organs.
Limb Injuries and Amputations
Serious accidents also cause painful fractures. Depending on the nature of the crash, limbs may be crushed or twisted. In very serious cases, the severe trauma caused by these injuries means that one or more limbs must be surgically amputated.
This is usually when limbs are unsalvageable or an arm or leg is trapped in a damaged vehicle.
California’s Speed Limits and Crash Severity
There are several different speed limits enforced throughout California. This includes 65 mph on freeways, 55 mph on undivided highways, and 25 mph on residential streets.
Whenever drivers exceed the speed limit on any of these roads, they risk injury to themselves and others.
Sadly, despite these limits, drivers continue to speed. As a result, speed-related accidents remain a leading cause of death. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, speed was a factor in nearly 30% of all (fatal) accidents in the state over the past few years.
Legal Implications of a Speed-Related Accident
In addition to severe injuries and property damage, a speed-related accident can also mean legal issues.
If you drive too fast and cause a severe accident, you may be liable for the victim’s medical expenses and property damage. If they file a case directly against you, you will likely also have to pay for lost income and future medical expenses.
If you speed and drive recklessly simultaneously, you will likely cause a fatal accident. In this case, you may face criminal charges, including vehicular manslaughter.
You are also not doing yourself any favors if you continue to speed. Even if you do not kill or harm anyone in an accident, you will likely end up paying more for insurance. Your insurance policy may even be canceled.
Moreover, if you are caught speeding while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will face more severe legal consequences. This includes going to prison and losing your license.
Speed Really Does Kill
It is simply not worth it to drive too fast, no matter what road you are on. Not only do you run the risk of severe harm to yourself, but you may kill or severely injure someone else. Apart from the lifelong guilt, it will also cost you a lot of money if you are sued.
Instead of trying to break all speed limits in sight, practice safe driving habits whenever you get in your car. This will help you protect yourself and others on the road.
Image by Tumisu from Pixabay
The editorial staff of Medical News Bulletin had no role in the preparation of this post. The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the advertiser and do not reflect those of Medical News Bulletin. Medical News Bulletin does not accept liability for any loss or damages caused by the use of any products or services, nor do we endorse any products, services, or links in our Sponsored Articles.
Speeding causes devastating accidents throughout the U.S., including California. Speed is, in fact, one of the most significant factors when it comes to injury severity after an accident. Whether you drive on a freeway or rural road, high speeds will drastically increase the risk of severe injuries in an accident. It also increases the likelihood of fatality. Think about it this way: Your body travels 65 miles per hour (as an example), just like your vehicle. Your car and your body will absorb a major impact if there is an abrupt crash. The faster you drive, the harsher this impact will be. This means extreme or catastrophic injuries, excessive property damage, and even death. When your car accelerates, so does the kinetic energy it generates. When an accident happens, this kinetic energy is discharged, causing a more powerful impact and greater damage. Kinetic energy is proportional to speed: even a minor acceleration can cause far higher energy and, therefore, a much more serious crash. Moreover, driving too fast decreases your ability to see and respond to hazards on the road. This is because as your speed increases, the distance you cover in the time it takes you to recognize and react to a hazard also increases. The faster you drive, the more the forces involved in an accident will hurt you. Different parts of your body can suffer severe harm: When you abruptly crash your car, you may hit your head hard. When this happens, your brain may collide with the skull as the car decelerates. This is what causes concussions or serious traumatic brain injuries. A high-impact crash also increases the risk of a skull fracture, which can cause your brain to swell and hemorrhage. If the bleeding is intense or excessive, there is a risk that you will bleed to death. It is also possible that you may suffer a diffuse axonal injury. This happens when the brain violently shifts within the skull, tearing nerve fibers in the process. A DAI typically results in permanent disability or a coma. Even if you are not driving as fast, the back-and-forth movement of your neck during a crash can strain the ligaments and bruise the soft tissues. If you crash at high speed, you may suffer a spinal cord injury or dislocation that could potentially result in paralysis. The impact may force your steering wheel into your body if you are involved in a head-on crash. This can puncture your lungs as your ribs fracture or break. This type of injury may also sever major blood vessels. The force of impact can collapse one or both lungs, making it impossible for you to breathe. You may also suffer bruises to your lungs. Some high-speed crashes that cause blunt trauma to the chest also affect the heart. If you are in an accident that severely injures your chest, your heart may suffer damage as well. This can lead to cardiac arrest, which is often fatal. Your seatbelt is an integral safety measure. Unfortunately, in a high-speed crash, your seatbelt can exacerbate your injuries. A forceful impact can make your seatbelt rip into your body. If this happens, you may suffer liver and spleen lacerations, which can cause internal bleeding. It is also possible for a serious car crash to cause blunt trauma to your intestines, resulting in bowel perforation. This is seen as an emergency because a ruptured bowel can cause serious infection in your body. Your kidneys are also vulnerable to direct impact in a crash, especially because they are situated in your lower back. A serious rear-end crash can mean extensive damage to these sensitive organs. Serious accidents also cause painful fractures. Depending on the nature of the crash, limbs may be crushed or twisted. In very serious cases, the severe trauma caused by these injuries means that one or more limbs must be surgically amputated. This is usually when limbs are unsalvageable or an arm or leg is trapped in a damaged vehicle. There are several different speed limits enforced throughout California. This includes 65 mph on freeways, 55 mph on undivided highways, and 25 mph on residential streets. Whenever drivers exceed the speed limit on any of these roads, they risk injury to themselves and others. Sadly, despite these limits, drivers continue to speed. As a result, speed-related accidents remain a leading cause of death. According to the California Office of Traffic Safety, speed was a factor in nearly 30% of all (fatal) accidents in the state over the past few years. In addition to severe injuries and property damage, a speed-related accident can also mean legal issues. If you drive too fast and cause a severe accident, you may be liable for the victim’s medical expenses and property damage. If they file a case directly against you, you will likely also have to pay for lost income and future medical expenses. If you speed and drive recklessly simultaneously, you will likely cause a fatal accident. In this case, you may face criminal charges, including vehicular manslaughter. You are also not doing yourself any favors if you continue to speed. Even if you do not kill or harm anyone in an accident, you will likely end up paying more for insurance. Your insurance policy may even be canceled. Moreover, if you are caught speeding while under the influence of drugs or alcohol, you will face more severe legal consequences. This includes going to prison and losing your license. It is simply not worth it to drive too fast, no matter what road you are on. Not only do you run the risk of severe harm to yourself, but you may kill or severely injure someone else. Apart from the lifelong guilt, it will also cost you a lot of money if you are sued. Instead of trying to break all speed limits in sight, practice safe driving habits whenever you get in your car. This will help you protect yourself and others on the road. Image by Tumisu from Pixabay The editorial staff of Medical News Bulletin had no role in the preparation of this post. The views and opinions expressed in this post are those of the advertiser and do not reflect those of Medical News Bulletin. Medical News Bulletin does not accept liability for any loss or damages caused by the use of any products or services, nor do we endorse any products, services, or links in our Sponsored Articles.
The Connection Between Speed and Injury Severity
Most Common Injuries in High-Speed Crashes
Head and Brain Injuries
Spinal Cord and Neck Injuries
Thoracic Injuries
Abdominal and Internal Organ Damage
Limb Injuries and Amputations
California’s Speed Limits and Crash Severity
Legal Implications of a Speed-Related Accident
Speed Really Does Kill
