With the burgeoning of technology and design, modern motor-vehicles are intended to stretch the limits of speed and endurance. It was in the beginning of the 20th century that automobiles entered the transportation market, but they were still seen as a rich person’s toy. In 1920, Ford sold nearly a million cars and there has been no looking back since then.

Modern automobiles are a far cry from those pioneering creations. Today, concepts like safety, fuel-economy, emissions, environmental impact stand shoulder to shoulder with vehicle electronics, performance, price, durability, ease of driving, quality and use of cutting edge technology, making the modern motor-vehicle an engineering marvel.

One of the features that many drivers consider while selecting a car is the maximum speed that a vehicle can achieve. Though it’s not possible to really let the car rip in our crowded cities, vehicle owners want one that’s capable of attaining top speeds while on highways and expressways.

Transport Canada prescribes stringent safety standards for all vehicles on its roads. All vehicles made or sold in Canada have to meet the Canada Motor Vehicle Safety standards. The Motor Vehicle Safety Act regulates the safety standards of motor-vehicles and motor-vehicle components.

Motor-Vehicle Accidents

Accidents are not inevitable events. They are usually avoidable and preventable, and most often caused by someone’s fault or negligence.

Some of the common reasons for a collision are driver-behavior related, while other reasons could be the driver’s response to external factors.

The common reasons for collisions are:

• Impaired driving caused by alcohol, drug or prescription medication consumption
• Fatigue
• Distractions including use of cellphones
• Speed, racing and performing stunts on the road
• Road-rage, aggression
• Defective or malfunctioning automobile parts
• Weather conditions
• Unfamiliar or rural roads
• Poorly-maintained roads
• Failure to obey warning signs
• Inexperienced or aged driver
• Non-use of safety restraints

Whatever the reason, victims in MVAs who sustain serious injuries  and their families have to shoulder the burden of medical costs, income loss, pain and suffering.

An experienced Oshawa personal injury lawyer can assess your case and provide guidance and assistance. You may be entitled to compensation.

How Does Speed Affect Safety?

Speed limits are imposed keeping in mind the general traffic conditions, nature of surroundings, the course of the road, general use of the road etc. For instance, lower speeds are recommended around school zones to protect children. Warning signs are posted at curves, elevation changes, crossings, etc to alert the driver to changes in the surroundings.

“Speed Kills” is a slogan that holds a lot of truth. Nearly 1.25 million people are killed every year in traffic accidents, with nearly 50% of these caused by over-speeding. Speeding creates a different set of problems when accidents occur, and injuries can be much more severe if the vehicle/s were traveling at very high speeds.

Very high speeds result in:

• Higher impact forces
• Limited time to react, maneuver, negotiate
• Reduced distance between vehicles
• Extended braking distance
• Impaired judgment

An experienced Oshawa personal injury lawyer can provide the right assistance and advocacy if you or a dear one has been injured in an MVA.