According to 2012 data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speed contributed to 30 percent of all fatal car accidents in that year, resulting in 10,219 deaths. This was a 2 percent increase over the previous year, in which 10,001 people died in speed-related collisions. In Colorado, there were 472 crash fatalities overall, and 162 of them were in speed-related crashes.
The NHTSA classifies a speed-related crash as one in which law enforcement indicate contributing factors such as the driver exceeding the speed limit, traveling too fast for road conditions or racing. Crashes are also considered speed-related if the driver is charged with violating the speed limit.
Among young men, 37 percent of drivers in both the 15- to 20-year-old and 21- to 24-year-old age groups were speeding in fatal accidents. Among young women, 24 percent of drivers between the ages of 15 and 20, and 19 percent of drivers between 21 and 24, were speeding in fatal crashes. Additionally, 28 percent of drivers between 15 and 20 who were speeding in an accident that resulted in a fatality also had blood alcohol concentrations of .08 percent or higher. Among the 21-to-24 age group, 50 percent were speeding and had BACs of .08 percent or higher. Broken down into vehicle types, 34 percent of motorcyclists were speeding in crashes that caused fatalities, along with 8 percent of large-truck drivers, 18 percent of light-truck drivers and 22 percent of passenger vehicle drivers.
The surviving family members of people killed in traffic collisions often suffer large financial damages along with the emotional turmoil of losing a loved one. If it can be established that the accidents were the result of the negligence of another driver, they may want to consult with a personal injury attorney to determine the methods by which they can receive compensation for the losses that have sustained.