Speeding is a dangerous driving habit that can have devastating consequences. If a driver is speeding, he or she can easily lose control of a vehicle and cause a catastrophic high-speed collision. If you are involved in a car crash caused by someone else speeding in Nevada, it may benefit you to hire a Las Vegas accident attorney to help you seek financial compensation.
What Are Nevada’s Speeding Laws?
Nevada has many laws in place to prevent speeding-related car accidents and enhance the safety of its roads. The state enforces traditional speed limits, with posted signs stating specific speeds that drivers cannot exceed, ranging from 15 to 80 miles per hour. Nevada’s prima facie laws automatically assume that a driver has broken the law if he or she is exceeding the posted speed limit. Nevada also has a basic speed law that requires all drivers to operate their vehicles at “reasonable and proper speeds” (Nevada Revised Statute § 484B.600). It is against the law for a driver to operate a vehicle faster than is reasonable and proper based on the conditions of the traffic, road and weather. In certain circumstances, this may mean reducing a vehicle’s speed below the posted limit. Finally, there are special speeding regulations in certain areas and for specific types of drivers. Commercial motor vehicles such as large trucks, for example, have reduced speed limits on Nevada’s highways. Areas with heightened risk factors may also have restricted speeds for drivers, such as school zones, pedestrian crosswalks and construction zones.
The Dangers of Speeding
Driving at a safe speed is crucial for allowing a driver to come to a complete stop when faced with road hazards or changing roadway situations, such as a vehicle abruptly braking or a pedestrian stepping out into the road. Operating at a prudent speed gives a driver the ability to remain in control of a motor vehicle and stop in time to prevent a crash. Nevada crash statistics show that from 2017 to 2021, 491 people died in speeding-related car accidents. Driving over the speed limit or too fast for conditions significantly increases the likelihood of a driver losing control of his or her motor vehicle and causing a car accident, especially around a corner or on wet or slippery road surfaces. Speeding not only enhances the risk of a car accident by reducing reaction times and increasing stopping distance, but it also leads to greater crash force and severity. The force of a car accident is directly connected to the speed at which the motor vehicles collide. High-speed crashes are more likely to inflict serious, catastrophic and fatal injuries.
How to Prove That Someone Was Speeding in Your Car Accident Case
In Nevada, the driver at fault for a car accident is responsible for paying for the crash, but the victim must prove fault. If there was video footage of the car accident, this could be used to demonstrate that the other driver was moving at a speed greater than what was reasonable. A police report may also document if the law enforcement officer believed speeding was a factor after assessing the crash scene. Other potential types of evidence of speeding include physical evidence from the scene, skid marks on the road, black box data (after a large truck accident), expert accident reconstruction, confessions from the driver and analysis of vehicle damage. An experienced attorney in Las Vegas can investigate your car accident to collect all available evidence of the other driver speeding. Then, your lawyer can use this to prove fault and collect maximum compensation for your losses.