Speeding accidents can cause serious injuries and significant financial losses. After a crash, injured victims often want to know what compensation they may be entitled to recover. Depending on the circumstances, damages may include medical expenses, property damage, pain and suffering, future medical care, and other accident-related losses.
Understanding the damages available is an important first step in pursuing compensation. That is why many victims seek legal guidance after speeding accidents. An experienced personal injury lawyer can evaluate your losses, gather evidence to support your claim, and help you pursue the full compensation you may be entitled to under the law.
What Types of Compensation Can You Recover After a Speeding Accident?
The damages available after a speeding accident depend on the circumstances of the crash and the losses you have suffered.
Medical Expenses
Medical expenses are often one of the largest parts of a personal injury claim. If another driver’s speeding caused your injuries, you may be able to recover compensation for the reasonable and necessary costs of your medical care, both immediately after the accident and throughout your recovery.
Compensation may include:
- Emergency medical treatment
- Ambulance transportation
- Hospital stays
- Surgeries
- Prescription medications
- Physical therapy
- Rehabilitation services
For example, a person who suffers multiple fractures in a high-speed collision may require surgery, several days of hospitalization, and months of physical therapy. These treatment costs may be included in a personal injury claim.
Lost Wages
Under California Civil Jury Instructions (CACI) No. 3903C, an injured person may recover damages for past and future lost earnings when those losses are caused by another person’s negligence. If your injuries prevent you from working, you may be able to recover compensation for the income you lose while recovering.
Compensation may include:
- Wages
- Salary
- Bonuses
- Commissions
- Other employment income lost because of the accident
For example, a construction worker recovering from a broken leg may be unable to return to work for several months, resulting in significant lost income that may be recoverable.
Future Medical Expenses and Reduced Earning Capacity
Some speeding accidents cause permanent injuries that require ongoing medical care or limit a person’s ability to earn a living. In these situations, compensation may include both future medical expenses and the loss of future earning capacity.
Future damages may include:
- Long-term rehabilitation
- Additional surgeries
- In-home care
- Other treatment expected after the claim is resolved
For example, a person who suffers a spinal cord injury may require lifelong medical treatment and may no longer be able to perform the same type of work, reducing their future earning potential.
Property Damage
Speeding collisions often cause extensive damage to vehicles and other personal property. Under California Civil Code Ā§ 3333, a person injured by another’s negligence may recover damages that compensate for the detriment proximately caused by that negligence. If another driver’s speeding caused the crash, you may be able to recover the reasonable cost of repairing or replacing damaged property.
Property damage may include:
- Vehicle repair or replacement
- Towing and storage fees
- Rental vehicle expenses
- Personal property damaged inside the vehicle
For example, if a speeding driver totaled your vehicle and damages a laptop stored inside, you may be able to recover compensation for both the vehicle and the damaged personal property.
Pain and Suffering
Not every loss after a speeding accident has a direct financial value. Depending on the applicable law, you may also be able to recover compensation for the physical pain, emotional distress, and reduced quality of life caused by your injuries.
These damages may include chronic pain, anxiety, depression, permanent disability, or the inability to participate in activities you enjoyed before the accident.
For example, a person who develops chronic back pain after a high-speed crash may no longer be able to exercise, play sports, or participate in family activities as they did before the accident.
Other Out-of-Pocket Expenses
A serious accident often creates additional expenses beyond medical treatment and vehicle repairs. If these costs are reasonably related to your injuries, they may also be recoverable as part of your claim.
Examples may include:
- Transportation to medical appointments
- Assistive devices such as crutches or wheelchairs
- Home or vehicle modifications
- Household assistance during recovery
For example, a person recovering from severe leg injuries may need to install a temporary wheelchair ramp or hire transportation to attend regular medical appointments. These expenses may be included in a claim when they are directly related to the accident.
Final Takeaways
- Victims of speeding accidents may be able to recover both economic and non-economic damages.
- Overspeeding accidents often result in serious injuries that lead to significant financial and personal losses.
- Medical expenses, lost wages, property damage, and pain and suffering are among the most common forms of compensation.
- Future medical care and reduced earning capacity may also be recoverable in more serious cases.
- Maintaining thorough documentation of your injuries and expenses can help strengthen your personal injury claim.
