Clearwater Exceeding Posted Speed Limits Accident Lawyer

Speed limits in Clearwater are needed to keep traffic flowing efficiently and, most importantly, safely. A driver who fails to obey these posted speed limits is not only breaking the law but also putting everyone on the road around them in danger, including even pedestrians who are walking on sidewalks or nearby the roads.
If you have been involved in a car accident caused by another vehicle speeding, then you should call The Law Place today. Our experienced Clearwater car accident lawyers who work in the Clearwater office will be able to offer you a free consultation and provide you with no-obligation legal advice and support as to whether your case is valid and, if so, what the following steps are. If you or a loved one have been a victim of a car accident, where the at-fault party was speeding, then you will likely deserve compensation. So, contact The Law Place today at (727) 217-9795 to speak to an exceeding posted speed limits lawyer to increase your chances of winning the compensation you deserve.

Florida Speeding Laws

In Florida Statute 316.183, drivers are prohibited from driving at a speed that is “greater than is reasonable,” which also takes into account the current weather conditions and regarding the actual hazards as well as potential ones. This may rely on basic judgment, as while going 40 miles per hour down a road on a bright, dry day may be safe, but going down the same road at the same speed when it’s dark and wet would likely be dangerous and a violation of the basic speeding law.
Florida also has absolute speed limits, which are very simple to understand: if a sign says the speed limit is 40 miles per hour, then you cannot travel faster than 40 miles per hour. If you do, then you’ve broken the law. Florida state law requires that speed limits are very clearly posted.
If you do speed, then the violation generally carries up to $500 in fines. However, the fine can go as high as $1,000 if the violation occurred in a school or construction zone. The offending driver could also be ordered to participate in a driver improvement school. Furthermore, a speeding violation will typically add at least three demerit points to the driver’s record. Accumulating a certain amount of points over a certain period of time could lead to a license suspension.

Why People Speed in Clearwater, FL

Speeding is one of the most dangerous but common types of aggressive and reckless driving. Below are some of the reasons that people may speed:

• Running late – Some drivers may exceed the posted speed limit simply because they are running late for work, an appointment, or anything else in between, and so they are anxious and trying to get to their destination as soon as possible.
• Traffic congestion – This is a frequently mentioned contributing factor to speeding. Drivers may speed and drive in other aggressive manners because they are frustrated by the traffic, and other drivers who they believe are impeding their journey and so are trying to get ahead of them.
• Driving under the influence – It may be illegal in Florida, but many drivers still drive while under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs. This is incredibly dangerous, and being intoxicated often leads to drivers not noticing the speed limits or choosing to ignore them in their impaired state of mind.
• Disregard for others and the law – If the driver is suffering from road rage, then they may put their needs ahead of the safety of others on the road and the law, even if this is subconsciously and something they are not aware that they’re doing. They may also believe that they will not be caught or punished for their actions and so are not discouraged from speeding.
• Anonymity – Inside of a motor vehicle, the driver may form a sense of detachment, as it feels as if they are shielded from the outside environment. This can lead to them feeling less constrained in how they are behaving, as they cannot be identified by others and will likely never see any of those who have witnessed their behavior and aggressive driving again. A lot of the time, this sense of anonymity leads to them not understanding that they are not creating a danger for others.

Regardless of what was the reason for the at-fault driver to speed, you may still be entitled to compensation, as the above reasons, and many others, do not excuse them. So, if you have been involved in a car accident, then you should contact The Law Place today to schedule a free case evaluation with one of our personal injury lawyers.

How Speeding Causes Car Accidents

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding has played a part in around one-third of all motor vehicle fatalities for over 20 years, showing that the seriousness of speeding should not be overlooked. This is true, as speeding means the following:

• Stopping distance – Speeding increases the distance needed for the vehicle to come to a complete stop, as the car is going faster and so requires more time to slow down so much.
• Loss of control – It is much easier to lose control of the vehicle when speeding, particularly if you are driving too fast during turns and other maneuvers, no matter how simple the vehicle may be.
• Protective equipment ineffective – At high speeds, airbags, seat belts, and other protective equipment found in cars are not as effective as they would be when traveling at a safe speed.
• More severe accidents – Crashes that occur when one or more of the vehicles involved are speeding are much more likely to be deadly as they increase the force and power of the collision. This means that accidents that may not have caused a fatality had they been driving at the speed limit may do so purely because speeding was involved.

As seen above, it is clear that speeding can cause accidents, or worsen the severity of ones that would have happened regardless, and cause much more severe injuries and, in some cases, even fatalities.
If a speeding driver crashed into you through no fault of your own, then you may deserve compensation. A car accident caused by a driver exceeding the posted speed limit can be incredibly dangerous, and so it is important that you get justice from the at-fault party, not only to offer you a form of closure and help you deal with any financial burdens you may now face but also to deter them from speeding ever again and potentially causing another accident. So, call The Law Place today to get the justice that you deserve.

Injuries Often Sustained by Victims of Car Accidents

Every type of car accident can cause devastating, life-changing, and sometimes even fatal injuries, for any and all of those involved. However, a car accident that included a speeding vehicle is even more dangerous and often increases the likelihood of more severe injuries and consequences. Some injuries that can be sustained in an exceeding posted speed limit accident are listed below:

• Traumatic brain or head injuries.
• Neck injuries, such as whiplash.
• Spinal cord injuries.
• Dismemberment.
• Disfigurement.
• Sprains, lacerations, cuts, burns, and bruises.
• Broken bones and fractures.
• Internal organ injuries.
• Internal bleeding.
• Wrongful death.

If you or a loved one have suffered any of the above injuries, or others, because of a vehicle recklessly speeding, then you should call a law firm to receive professional advice from a personal injury lawyer. At The Law Place, our Clearwater-based lawyers have all the skills necessary to ensure that you have the best chance of receiving the compensation that you deserve.

Damages Commonly Won in Exceeding Posted Speed Limits Accident Cases in Clearwater, FL

Motor accidents can leave you with devastating consequences, and so it is important to us that you receive justice for all you have endured. Below are some of the most common damages that The Law Place can help you recover compensation for:

• Medical expenses.
• Property damage.
• Loss of wages.
• Pain and suffering.
• Loss of a loved one.

If you have been involved in a car accident caused by a reckless driver exceeding the posted speed limit, then call The Law Place for a free case evaluation to speak to an established and determined accident lawyer.

Clearwater Exceeding Posted Speed Limits Accident Lawyer

Meet the Team

David Haenel heads our Clearwater speed-related accident group and studies Florida crash-report codes that flag speeding as a causative factor. Darren Finebloom turns event-data recorder downloads, traffic-camera footage, and radar-gun logs into clear stories juries understand. AnneMarie Rizzo partners with reconstruction engineers to match skid-mark lengths to pre-impact speed while paralegals Rose and Tracy open claims the day you call, schedule medical visits, and text nightly updates so clients always know where their cases stand.

Reviews & Testimonials

“A driver doing eighty on US 19 hit our minivan. David proved the exact speed from the black box and settled for the full limits.”
“They treated my torn-rotator-cuff case like family business. Darren matched traffic-signal timing to the crash and the carrier paid without argument.”
“After a sports car flew past the beach roundabout and sideswiped my bike, the team guided me through rehab, wage-loss claims, and bicycle replacement until everything was covered.”

Case Studies

Howard Frankland Bridge High-Speed Rear-End
A car traveling ninety in a sixty-five zone struck a sedan. Event-data recorder logs showed throttle wide open for six seconds before impact. Settlement reached for $850,000, and the driver’s insurer added a telematics-monitor discount program.

Courtney Campbell Causeway Lane-Departure Crash
A pickup lost control at seventy-eight miles per hour in a fifty zone and crossed the centerline. Dash-cam footage and GPS speed confirmed excessive speed. Recovery of $915,000 funded cervical-fusion surgery and forced the fleet owner to add speed governors.

Drew Street School-Zone Collision
A delivery van entered a twenty-mile-per-hour zone at forty-five miles per hour and hit a pedestrian. Police radar logs plus cell-phone route pressure texts proved negligence. We secured $775,000 and the carrier adopted automatic speed-limit recognition on its apps.

Comprehensive FAQ

What qualifies as an “exceeding posted speed limits” accident?

Any crash where police cite speed greater than the posted limit as a contributing cause falls into this category. Florida crash reports list speed code 550 for “too fast for conditions” and note the exact posted limit for each road segment.

Why are Clearwater roads prone to speed-related crashes?

Wide causeway lanes, beach-bound tourist traffic, and long sight lines on Gulf-to-Bay Boulevard tempt drivers to exceed limits. Sudden merges near Memorial Causeway and pedestrian crossings downtown mean little reaction time when speeds are too high.

Who can be liable in a speed-limit crash?

The speeding driver is primary, but employers face vicarious liability when fleet vehicles use lax speed-monitoring. City agencies share blame if malfunctioning signals produce green-wave illusions that encourage speeding. Vehicle manufacturers may share fault when brake defects magnify stopping distance.

How do attorneys prove exact speed?

Lawyers combine event-data recorder downloads, dash-cam frame counts, radar-gun logs, and traffic-camera time stamps. Reconstruction engineers calculate speed from skid-mark length and crush damage. Matching multiple sources strengthens the conclusion and persuades insurers to settle.

What damages can victims recover?

Florida law allows payment for emergency care, surgeries, rehabilitation, lost wages, reduced earning power, property damage, pain, suffering, and emotional distress. Catastrophic injuries justify life-care plans that fund attendant care, mobility devices, and home alterations.

How does modified comparative negligence affect compensation?

You may collect damages if your fault stays below fifty percent. Speeding drivers often blame sudden stops. Reconstruction engineers use braking data and sight-distance studies to show the speeder had time to react, minimizing any fault placed on you.

Can punitive damages apply to speed-related crashes?

Yes. Speeds more than twenty miles per hour over the limit, street racing, or repeated speeding tickets can meet Florida’s gross-negligence threshold. Clear evidence of indifference to safety may unlock punitive awards and increase settlement value.

How quickly must evidence be preserved?

Event-data recorders overwrite after forty engine hours, and traffic-camera servers erase footage within seven days. Send a preservation letter within forty-eight hours to secure black-box data, dash-cam video, and radar-calibration records.

What immediate steps should I take after a crash?

Call 911 and accept medical evaluation. Photograph speedometer readings if safe, skid marks, and any debris field. Collect witness contacts who can testify to speed. Contact a speed-accident lawyer quickly so subpoenas issue before electronic data vanishes.

How do weather and road conditions influence speed liability?

Even legal speeds can be unsafe on wet bridge decks or during sudden Gulf storms. Police may cite “too fast for conditions” under Florida Statute 316.183. Demonstrating rain-slick surfaces or glare strengthens negligence claims.

Will health insurance cover treatment while the case is active?

Health insurers usually pay first and then file liens on any settlement. Your lawyer negotiates reductions so more funds reach you. Personal Injury Protection provides up to $10,000 regardless of fault.

How long does a speed-accident case take?

Clear-liability cases with completed treatment often settle in nine to eleven months. Disputed speed readings, multiple insurers, or severe injuries can stretch litigation to fifteen or eighteen months. Trial calendars typically prompt serious negotiations.

Are bicyclists and pedestrians treated differently?

Vulnerable-road-user statutes enhance penalties for drivers who speed past cyclists or through crosswalks. Compensation rights remain the same, but juries award higher non-economic damages due to sympathy for vulnerable victims.

What expert witnesses strengthen these claims?

Accident-reconstruction engineers compute speed and stopping distance. Human-factors specialists explain perception-reaction times. Economists estimate lifetime wage loss, and life-care planners price future medical needs. Expert testimony translates technical data into language juries trust.

Does a traffic citation guarantee civil liability?

A citation is persuasive but not conclusive. Civil juries consider all evidence. Winning dismissal of a ticket in traffic court does not erase liability if black-box data still shows speeding.

Will filing a claim raise my auto-insurance rates?

Using the at-fault driver’s liability coverage usually does not affect your premiums. Your insurer adjusts rates only if you claim collision benefits or are found primarily at fault. A successful liability recovery that reimburses your carrier keeps rates stable.

How soon should I hire an attorney?

Immediately. Early intervention secures radar logs, traffic-camera footage, and witness statements before memories fade. Quick subpoenas to FDOT obtain signal-timing data that may show the driver ran an accelerated light.

Can a driver’s phone data prove speeding?

Yes. Many devices log motion speed for fitness or map apps. Subpoenas pull these logs, and matching them to tower pings confirms excessive speed seconds before impact.

What happens if the speeding driver was working?

Employers face vicarious liability and often carry higher policy limits. Delivery apps and rideshare platforms must defend negligent-hiring claims if they ignored prior speeding tickets. Including employers boosts settlement resources.

What does it cost to hire your firm?

Representation is contingency based. No attorney fee unless we recover money. Standard fees are one-third before litigation and forty percent once a lawsuit is filed. All costs, including expert fees and black-box downloads, are advanced and reimbursed only from a successful outcome.

Why choose a Clearwater lawyer?

Local counsel knows Pinellas County judges, jury tendencies, and traffic-camera locations. Quick access to bridges and beach corridors allows evidence collection before skid marks fade. Familiar ties with area doctors streamline treatment and expert referrals, helping you heal and recover financially.

What should I bring to the first meeting?

Bring the crash report, photos, medical records, hospital bills, insurance cards, repair estimates, pay stubs, and any dash-cam or traffic-camera footage. Complete documentation lets our team send preservation letters immediately and build a compelling claim.

Meet the Team

David Haenel leads our Clearwater misdemeanor-defense unit and once prosecuted traffic-related refusal cases for the Pinellas State Attorney. Darren Finebloom cross-examines patrol officers on body-cam gaps and order clarity so juries see both sides. AnneMarie Rizzo files motions to dismiss vague or unconstitutional commands, while paralegals Rose and Tracy track discovery, pull dispatch audio, and text daily updates so every client keeps control of the timeline.

Reviews & Testimonials

“An officer said I ignored his hand signal at a DUI checkpoint. David proved the dash-cam showed confusing traffic cones and the case was dropped.”
“Darren explained every step, kept me calm, and the jury decided I never heard the order in beach traffic.”
“They treated me with respect from day one and never stopped until my record stayed clean.”

Case Studies

Checkpoint Confusion on Memorial Causeway
Officers charged a tourist who rolled forward at a ferry checkpoint. Body-cam audio showed multiple conflicting directions. Prosecutors dismissed the count of failure to obey a lawful order, and the client paid only a civil infraction.

Marina Curfew Order in Clearwater Beach
A fisherman stayed on a public pier after a deputy announced closing time. AnneMarie obtained city-code maps showing the area remained open to midnight. The State reduced the charge to a non-criminal citation with no probation.

Protest Dispersal near Downtown Courthouse
A demonstrator was arrested for refusing to move fifty feet back. Darren hired a crowd-control expert who testified the dispersal order was inaudible over traffic. The jury acquitted in forty minutes, and the arrest record was expunged.

The Law Place

When a speeding vehicle strikes another one, it can cause a catastrophic accident. Even if you are wearing a seat belt, victims of car accidents can still suffer from severe and sometimes life-changing injuries. When a pedestrian is hit by a speeding vehicle, the consequences can be even more disastrous.
If you or a loved one have been in a car accident caused by a vehicle traveling above the speed limit, then you may qualify for a personal injury claim and lawsuit. However, time is limited when proceeding with civil action. Take your first step toward justice and your chance at financial compensation, and call The Law Place today at (727) 217-9795 to schedule a free consultation. Our lawyers at The Law Place have over 75 years of combined experience in dealing with the Florida legal system, and so you can rest assured knowing your case and justice is in the best possible hands.