Richmond Speeding Accident Lawyer

What to Do After a Speeding Crash in Richmond?

The steps you take immediately after a crash are critical for both your health and your legal claim. Acting quickly protects both your well-being and your right to compensation.

Call 911 and Get Medical Care

Your health is the top priority after any collision. Always seek immediate medical evaluation after a high-impact crash, as serious injuries like concussions or internal bleeding may not show symptoms right away. Emergency responders can also document the scene and create an official report.

Capture Photos, Video, and Witnesses

If you are able, use your phone to take pictures of vehicle damage, skid marks on the road, and the overall scene. Ask any witnesses what they saw and get their contact information. This evidence can disappear quickly, so document everything you can while it’s available.

Avoid Recorded Statements

The other driver’s insurance company will likely call you for a recorded statement within days of the accident. You should politely decline and direct them to your attorney. Insurance adjusters are trained to use your words against you to reduce or deny your claim.

Call Vendt Accident Attorneys

Contact us for a free consultation to understand your legal rights and options. We can begin investigating your case immediately and handle all communications with insurance companies, so you can focus on recovery.

How Does Vendt Prove the Other Driver Was Speeding?

Even if the driver denies speeding and there’s no citation, we have sophisticated methods to prove it. We leave no stone unturned to gather the evidence needed to win your case and hold reckless drivers accountable.

Event Data Recorder and Telematics

Many modern vehicles contain an Event Data Recorder, or “black box,” that records crucial data like speed and braking in the seconds before impact. We act quickly to send a preservation letter to prevent this critical evidence from being erased. This technology provides objective proof that cannot be disputed or denied.

Reconstruction, Skid Marks, and Impact Analysis

Our accident reconstruction experts analyze physical evidence, such as the length of skid marks and the severity of vehicle damage. Using principles of physics, they can accurately calculate the driver’s speed at impact. This scientific approach creates compelling evidence that insurance companies cannot easily dismiss.

Police Reports, Citations, and 911 Audio

We thoroughly review the official police report for any officer notes indicating speed was a factor. We also obtain 911 call recordings, as witnesses often describe reckless driving in their initial call for help. These official documents provide crucial supporting evidence for your claim.

CCTV, Dashcams, and Nearby Business Video

We immediately investigate for any available video footage from nearby traffic cameras, business security systems, or other drivers’ dashcams. This evidence is invaluable but can be deleted quickly, making prompt action essential. Video proof often provides the clearest picture of what actually happened.

Is Speeding Negligence Under Texas Law?

Yes, speeding is considered negligence under Texas law. Texas has a Basic Speed Rule that requires all drivers to operate at a speed that is reasonable and prudent for the current conditions.

This means that even if someone is driving at or below the posted speed limit, they can still be found negligent if that speed was unsafe. Bad weather, road construction, or heavy traffic can make the posted speed limit unsafe. A violation of this rule establishes apparent negligence in your case.

Can You Recover If You Were Also Speeding?

Texas follows a legal rule known as “modified comparative fault,” or the 51% rule.

This means you can still recover damages even if you were partially at fault for the accident.

As long as you are found to be 50% or less responsible, you can obtain compensation. Your percentage of fault will reduce your final award, but you won’t lose everything. An experienced attorney is vital to fight against unfair allegations of fault and protect your right to recovery.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

A high-speed collision can result in catastrophic injuries and overwhelming financial burdens. We fight to help you recover compensation for all of your losses, both economic and personal.

Economic Damages

These damages cover your measurable financial losses stemming from the accident:

• Medical expenses: Past and future hospital bills, surgeries, doctor visits, and prescription costs.
• Lost income: Wages you’ve missed and future earning capacity that’s been reduced
• Property damage: Vehicle repair or replacement costs and damaged personal belongings.
• Rehabilitation costs: Physical therapy, occupational therapy, and medical equipment for conditions like back injuries and other trauma.

Non-Economic Damages

This compensation addresses the intangible, personal losses that have profoundly affected your quality of life:

• Pain and suffering: Physical discomfort and emotional distress from your injuries.
• Disability: Permanent limitations on your ability to work or enjoy activities, including severe conditions like paralysis.
• Disfigurement: Scarring or other permanent changes to your appearance.
• Mental anguish: Anxiety, depression, and trauma resulting from the accident.

Punitive Damages for Extreme Speeding

When a driver’s conduct is grossly negligent, we can pursue punitive damages. This may apply in cases involving street racing, excessive speeds in school zones, or driving while intoxicated. These damages punish the defendant and deter others from similar reckless behavior.

Who May Be Liable Beyond the Driver?

In some speeding accident cases, the driver is not the only party who can be held legally responsible. Multiple parties may share fault depending on the circumstances of your crash.

Employer of At-Fault Driver

If the speeding driver was on the clock or performing work-related duties at the time of the crash, their employer can be held liable. This applies under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, which makes employers responsible for their employees’ actions during work hours.

Street Racing Organizers or Participants

In crashes caused by illegal street racing, other drivers involved in the race can share legal responsibility. Even individuals who helped organize or promote the racing event may be held liable for your injuries.

Vehicle Owner or Lender

A person who knowingly lends their vehicle to a driver with a history of recklessness may be held liable. This applies under the negligent entrustment theory when the owner should have known the driver was dangerous.

Government Road Defects and Claims

If a missing speed limit sign, poorly designed curve, or other dangerous road condition contributed to the accident, a government entity could be partially responsible. These claims have special rules and shorter deadlines, so immediate action is required.

How Does Insurance Fight Speeding Claims?

Insurance companies are for-profit businesses that prioritize their bottom line over your well-being. They use specific tactics to deny or devalue legitimate speeding claims, and you need protection from these strategies.

Insurers often claim there’s no proof of speeding without a ticket, but we counter this with expert testimony and physical evidence. They look for any reason to blame you for the accident to reduce their payout under Texas’s comparative fault rules. Quick, low settlement offers are common before you know the full extent of your injuries and losses.

We handle all communications and negotiations, protecting you from these tactics. Our experience with insurance company strategies ensures they cannot take advantage of you during your recovery.

How Long Do You Have To File in Texas?

In Texas, the statute of limitations for personal injury claims is generally two years from the date of the accident. This is a strict deadline; if you miss it, you lose your right to recover compensation forever.

For claims against government entities, the deadline is much shorter. You may have as little as six months to provide formal notice of your claim. It’s crucial to act quickly to protect your rights and preserve vital evidence that can disappear over time.

Why Choose Vendt Accident Attorneys?

When you’re recovering from a serious injury, you need a legal team with the compassion to support you and the experience to win. We combine personal attention with proven results to get you the compensation you deserve.

85 Years of Combined Experience

Our attorneys bring 85 years of combined legal experience to your case. We have a deep understanding of the technical evidence and legal strategies required to win complex speeding accident claims. This experience translates directly into better results for our clients.

Local Knowledge of Fort Bend Roads

As a Richmond-based law firm, we’re intimately familiar with local roads, intersections, and traffic patterns. We know where speeding accidents occur most often and how to investigate them effectively in our community. This local knowledge gives us an advantage in building your case.

Trial-Ready and Contingency Fee

You pay nothing upfront to hire us; we work on a contingency fee basis, which means we only get paid if we win your case. As proven trial attorneys, we are always prepared to take your case to court if insurance companies refuse fair settlements. This willingness to go to trial often leads to better negotiated settlements.