Speeding was a factor in nearly 9,400 deaths in 2018 according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Even without witnesses or video evidence, there are ways to prove that speed contributed to a motor vehicle collision using physical evidence from the scene and expert analysis. Signs that speed was a factor include the length of skid marks, the distance and nature of debris, the severity of vehicle damage, surveillance footage, and data recorded by electronic devices in vehicles. Contacting an experienced auto accident attorney is important to help determine liability when speed may have played a role in a collision.

1. Request a FREE Consultation
How Do You Prove a Speeding Driver is Responsible
for Your Motor Vehicle Collision?
It’s no surprise that speed is a common factor in many motor vehicle collisions. Speeding
doesn’t just result in an inconvenient ticket for motorists; it can be deadly when you pair
speed with thousands of pounds of metal. The risk is compounded when you add in poor
visibility, impaired judgement, debris, bad weather or poorly lit roads.
Here In 2018 alone, speeding killed nearly 9,400 people in this country, according to the
National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
If you have been in a car collision where you know speed was a factor on the part of the
other motorist, you may assume that if there were no other witnesses or the act wasn’t
caught on camera that you won’t be able to prove their fault. You would be wrong. There
Personal Injury Law Firm: 540-345-2000

2. are ways for investigators to determine if speed was involved in a collision, even with no
traditional means of proof, such as video.
There’s a lot of evidence left behind at the scene of a collision, from skid marks to debris,
that can prove without a doubt that speed was a factor – not just in the collision itself, but
in its severity.
An experienced auto injury attorney in Southwest Virginia can help you with the claims
process and get the necessary evidence to bring about a successful claim.
Signs Speed Was a Factor
Your auto accident lawyer in Southwest Virginia can help you prove that speed was a
factor in your collision.
Here are some of the most common pieces of proof:
Witness Testimonies
Other motorists or pedestrians who saw what happened can attest that the other driver
was going too fast for the posted speed limit or road conditions. But in addition to
bystanders, police officers, forensic experts, and traffic accident re-constructionists can
lend their professional opinions as to what happened, which can bolster the strength of
your case.
Police Reports
Law enforcement officials will fill out a report after visiting the scene. This report may
include any citations or speeding tickets that were issued by officers, which is often
enough to prove liability.
Physical Evidence
There are many ways you can prove speed was involved by the following pieces of
physical evidence:
• Skid marks: Forensic experts can determine the presence of speed by measuring
the length and depth of any skid marks. In general, those marks will be longer if the
offending vehicle was speeding.
• Debris: How much debris that dislodges from the vehicles, along with the distance
that debris traveled, can indicate speed. This is why taking pictures at the scene is
imperative, before it all gets cleaned up.

3. • Vehicle damage: The severity of damage to the car can show that speed was
involved.
• Surveillance footage: Security cameras nearby may have caught the collision on
video, providing further evidence of speed as a culprit.
• Photos: By examining wide-angle and close-up shots of the vehicles after the
collision, forensic experts will be able to tell if the other party exceeded the speed
limit.
• Data from onboard electronic devices: Many of today’s newer cars have
electronic devices that record speeds whenever the vehicle is in motion. This data
can be used to prove the other driver was speeding when the collision occurred.
This is why you should try to collect as much data from the scene as you can, such as
photos, road conditions, debris and witness statements. This information will assist your
Southwest Virginia auto accident attorney in determining fault.
Contact Altizer Law
Bettina C. Altizer and her team at Altizer Law have vast experience in handling auto
collision cases involving speed. For a free, no-obligation consultation, please contact us at
540-345-2000. Having a car accident lawyer in Roanoke VA on your side is imperative in
speeding cases.