Virginia law establishes speed limits that set the maximum legal speed for drivers under ideal conditions.
When drivers violate Virginia speeding laws, they put others at risk and may face a speeding ticket or reckless driving charge. They may also face civil liability through a car accident claim. Evidence that they were speeding can help establish negligence.
Virginia Speed Limits, Speeding Violations, and Reckless Driving Laws
Virginia speeding laws set general speed limits for different types of roads, although specific areas may impose different limits and post signs to that effect.
Virginia law generally sets a 55 mph maximum speed limit on interstate highways, divided limited-access highways, four-lane nonlimited-access highways, and state primary highways. Some highways may allow up to 70 mph speed limits in VA when proper signs are posted after a traffic study.
Exceeding the Virginia speed limit by any amount can lead to tickets, driver’s license points, and other consequences, but driving over 85 mph or exceeding the posted speed limit by 20 mph can rise to the level of reckless driving and expose the driver to more severe penalties.
If a speeding driver causes a crash, the violation of the Virginia speed law can support a finding that the driver failed to use reasonable care, helping connect their conduct to liability for any injuries and losses that resulted from the accident.
How Speeding Can Help Establish Fault After a Virginia Car Accident
Evidence that a driver was speeding can strongly support a claim that they acted negligently before a crash. To prove negligence in a speed-related accident claim, an injured person must show that the other driver owed them a duty of care, breached that duty, and caused their injuries as a result.
A speeding violation can help show that the driver breached their general duty to drive safely.
Other evidence can also help support a car accident claim. When the police report, witness statements, skid marks, vehicle damage, traffic camera footage, and crash reconstruction findings link the speeding violation to the collision, it can help establish their fault for the accident.
How Virginia Speeding Laws Can Affect Compensation in Injury Claims
When evidence of speeding can help show why a crash happened and why it caused such severe injuries, it has the potential to affect the amount of compensation awarded to an injured person.
Higher speeds increase the force of impact, and a car accident attorney can use evidence of excessive speed to strengthen their client’s case, including traffic citations, crash reports, witness statements, event data recorder information, and accident reconstruction findings.
The evidence can help connect the driver’s conduct to the injuries and make a persuasive case for why full compensation is warranted.
Speak With a Virginia Car Accident Lawyer About a Speeding Crash
If you were hit by a driver who was violating the Virginia speeding laws, you may be entitled to compensation for your car accident injuries and related financial and personal losses.
D. Michael Mullori, Jr., Attorney at Law, can help you understand your legal rights and options and pursue the results you deserve.
Contact us today or call anytime at (703) 762-2142 for a free consultation with an experienced Virginia car accident attorney. Our office is conveniently located at 2500 Hunter Pl, Unit 102, Woodbridge, VA. We can help!
