Friday saw the close of one of the deadliest work weeks this year in the San Antonio area. Yesterday alone saw two fatal accidents: one accident involving multiple 18-wheelers and one involving an overturned compact vehicle, resulting in three total deaths and several injuries. Earlier this week, a San Antonio area man driving under the influence collided with construction equipment, injuring himself and causing the death of his wife and four of his children. Accident investigators concluded excessive speed was involved in every one of these accidents. One unidentified investigator identified a more common problem of reckless driving on the part of area residents. “How many times have you been going down the street and there are people flying out there?” he said. “There are not enough cops on the street to slow everybody down. For some reason, everybody’s in a big hurry.”
Many area drivers may be unaware of the dangers posed by excessive speed. Experts indicate that excessive speed is involved in a majority of serious accidents involving injury or death, regardless of other factors. Additionally, the perceived advantages of speeding are exaggerated. Assuming minimal traffic, a 20-minute trip to downtown is cut by only two minutes when a motorist travels 10 miles per hour above the posted speed limit.
Colloquially, motorists objecting to these numbers will often cite the German Autobahn as an example of a highway system that experiences fewer injuries and deaths despite lacking a speed limit. These statistics are misleading, and in many cases, outdated. The German Autobahn was designed to accommodate the maximum possible speed of an automobile at a time when most automobiles were incapable of speeds much above 70 or 80 miles per hour. And in fact, statistics show that most Autobahn motorists travel at speeds around those the highway was designed for, and major accidents resulting in injury or death involve speeds well in excess of those safe limits. In fact, speed limits have been instituted in many sections of the Autobahn in response to the increasing capabilities of automobiles in the second half of the 20th century, and there are now few places where drivers are free to travel at speeds in excess of 70 miles per hour. Additionally, the American Interstate system was modeled on the Autobahn, meaning that the maximum safe speed limit on most roads, based on their design, is roughly the posted speed limit.
These facts mean that a motorist has no excuse or good reason for traveling above the posted speed limit and can be held criminally and civilly liable for damages occurring from an accident if they were traveling at an unsafe speed and cause an accident and injuries or death. If you’ve been a victim of an accident and even incrementally excess speed was involved, don’t hesitate to consult with a San Antonio injury lawyer; the other party almost undoubtedly owes damages for their negligent behavior.
Are you searching for a San Antonio injury lawyer? The Law Offices of George Salinas represents victims and families of personal injury and wrongful death in Texas. We have a strong conviction that justice must be brought whenever someone suffers due to the carelessness of another, and we fight vigorously for victims and their families. To schedule a free consultation, call the Law Offices of George Salinas at 210.225.0909 or visit for more information.
