Speed to Blame in Crash Near CSUN

Witnesses to the January 26 crash near California State University that claimed the lives of two people and left four others with critical and serious injuries describe the scene as being “horrific.” Now police are saying that speed was a factor in the crash.
According to media sources, police say that a sports coupe carrying two people in their 50s or 60s was speeding when the car collided with a vehicle driven by a group of people in their 20s and a 15-year-old. Two of the four people in the other vehicle were taken to an area hospital in critical condition, while the condition of the other two was described as “serious.” The fire department responded to the scene with the Jaws of Life to extricate occupants from both vehicles. The crash is still under investigation.
Although the details on this terrible accident are still forthcoming, this latest crash underscores the problem that speeding represents in not just Los Angeles, but across the entire county. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, speeding resulted in the deaths of 9,717 people in 2017, which is roughly 26 percent of traffic fatalities for the year. The NHTSA says that speeding drivers are less likely to wear their seat belts, which can make matters even worse. In fact, 49 percent of speeding drivers involved in fatal 2016 crashes were not wearing seat belts, compared to 21 percent of non-speeding drivers.
The NHTSA goes on to say that for the past 20 years, speeding has been a factor in around 33 percent of all motor vehicle deaths. A driver’s speed, says the organization, affects drivers’ safety not just when they exceed the speed limit, but also when they drive too fast for existing road conditions. This sometimes happens during inclement weather, when roads are being repaired, or when the area is poorly lit.
Speeding can obviously make it more difficult to control a moving vehicle, increasing the potential for loss of control that leads to accidents like the one discussed above. It can also reduce the effectiveness of restraint systems and enhance the severity of crash injuries. Moreover, traveling at too great a speed can make it hard to stop when road conditions change, such as when a vehicle pulls out into traffic or a person crosses the street with no warning. The NHTSA goes on to say that speeding is not just illegal and dangerous to the speeding driver and occupants of his or her car, but also to others on the roadway, as we saw play out in the CSUN crash.
If you or a loved one have been involved in a crash due to speeding or some other negligent act, contact us right away to discuss your case details. Schedule your free, no-obligation case consultation with our Los Angeles car accident attorney now; you may be able to collect damages ranging from medical costs and lost wages to pain and suffering and other noneconomic losses.
https://losangeles.cbslocal.com/2019/01/26/at-least-2-dead-4-hurt-in-horrific-crash-near-csun/
https://www.nhtsa.gov/risky-driving/speeding