Miami Car Accident Lawyer

Speeding Car Accidents in Miami Gardens

Miami Gardens, located in Miami-Dade County, is the home to a significant number of car accidents related to speed. In 2013, of the 2,261 car accident fatalities which occurred across the state of Florida, 248 of those fatalities were in Miami-Dade County. This put Miami-Dade County in the number one slot for fatal auto accidents. Saturday is the day in which a fatal auto accident is most likely, with March taking the number one slot for deadliest month. (Spring break likely has something to do with the month of March having the most fatal auto accidents.) Driver distraction, aggressive driving (such as speeding), drunk driving and inexperienced drivers are the factors most often associated with auto accidents of all types.

The Dangers of Speeding

Speeding most often occurs when drivers exceed the posted speed limits. Another type of speeding takes place when an individual simply drives too fast for the current road conditions. Traveling above the posted speed limit, or driving too fast for weather conditions can magnify other driving errors such as following too closely or driving while distracted or tired. When a driver is traveling at higher rates of speed, he or she has less time to identify and react to what is happening outside the vehicle. The “safety margin” is also removed, since a vehicle takes much longer to stop when traveling at higher speeds. Higher automobile speeds are much more likely to result in serious injuries or death in the event of a collision. Nearly three-fourths of fatal car crashes occur on roads with a posted speed limit of 30 mph or less.

How Many Drivers Routinely Exceed the Speed Limit?

Interestingly, on roads with a posted speed limit of 60 mph, only about 8 percent of all drivers will exceed that speed limit, with about 1 percent driving over 70 mph. Yet on a road with a posted speed of 70 mph, a fully 42 percent of drivers will exceed the speed limit, with 10 percent driving more than 80 mph. All in all, approximately 52 percent of drivers almost always observe posted speed limits, 33 percent occasionally exceed posted speed limits and 14 percent of drivers routinely exceed posted speed limits. Driving while under the influence of alcohol can also result in a higher likelihood of the driver exceeding the speed limit. Some of the more notable speeding car accidents in Miami Gardens include the following:

• Less than a year ago, a high-speed pursuit by a deputy from the Broward Sheriff’s Office resulted in a serious collision. The driver of a white Cadillac made an illegal

u-turn on Hallandale Beach Blvd., then sped off when the deputy attempted to pull him over. Zachary Moorin, 34, led deputies on a high-speed chase on Interstate 95, into Miami Dade County. In the course of the chase, Moorin lost control of his vehicle, crashing into two other cars near Miami Gardens and U.S. Highway 441. One of the victims, George McGill, 21, was listed in critical condition at a local hospital.

• On February 27, 2015, a nine-year old Miami Gardens girl was rushed to Joe DiMaggio’s Children’s Hospital, after being hit by an unmarked police car. It is believed speed was a factor in the accident which occurred at Northwest 183^rd Street and Ninth Avenue. The young girl was struck by the officer’s Silver Nissan Maxima, while crossing a busy intersection. Reports state the girl suffered multiple broken bones.
• On March 11^th, 2015, a police chase which began in Miami Gardens, ended with a jump from a highway retaining wall and a K-9 “takedown” in a yard in Boynton Beach. The car, a red Volkswagen Jetta, was followed by news helicopters as it sped up I-95, exiting at the Gateway Blvd. ramp. Several drivers were hit by the speeding car before it hit the retaining wall, and a man jumped from the car and over the wall, landing approximately 15-20 feet down onto the ground. The man then ran through several nearby neighborhoods prior to being taken down by a Boynton Beach officer and his K-9 “assistant”. The suspect was taken to the hospital where he was treated for dog bites.

The most common types of injuries associated with a speed-related crash are traumatic brain injuries, broken bones, burns, paralysis, internal injuries and soft-tissue injuries including neck and back injuries. A driver who speeds can face greater legal penalties than receiving just a speeding ticket, particularly if an accident resulted from the increased speed.