Updated October 2026
Quick Summary: An auto accident injury lawyer proves a driver was speeding with evidence from the crash: skid marks, vehicle damage, where the cars came to rest, witness accounts, nearby video, the police report, and data from the vehicles’ event data recorders. In Louisiana, that proof helps establish fault in an injury claim. Sean Regan Law handles these cases for people hurt in crashes across New Orleans and the surrounding parishes.
Speeding is a common factor in serious car crashes. A driver going too fast has less time to react to stopped traffic, a changing light, or someone crossing the road. If you were hurt in a crash caused by someone speeding, our auto accident injury lawyer team at Sean Regan Law understands how speed changes your case and how to prove it.
Speeding breaks the law and puts everyone nearby at risk, whether the driver was late for work or simply not paying attention. The hard part is proving it after the fact, because a driver who was speeding rarely admits it. The sections below explain the evidence that shows speed and how it fits into a Louisiana injury claim.
Why Speeding Makes Crashes Worse
A speeding driver has less control of the vehicle and needs more distance to stop. When the crash happens, there is more force behind it. That is why speed-related crashes so often lead to large medical bills, time away from work, and long recoveries.
A driver does not have to be over the posted limit to be driving too fast. Louisiana’s general speed law, La. R.S. 32:64, says no one may drive faster than is reasonable and prudent for the traffic, the road surface and width, and the weather. Rain, fog, work zones, and heavy traffic on stretches like I-10 through New Orleans can all make a legal speed unsafe.
Our team collects police reports, witness statements, and video from traffic and business cameras to show the other driver was speeding and caused the crash. Throughout the case, the focus stays on your injuries and what they have cost you, because that is what a personal injury claim is about.
Common Signs That the Other Driver Was Speeding
Proving that a driver was speeding is not always easy, but a crash scene leaves clues. A New Orleans car accident lawyer knows which ones to look for:
- Skid and yaw marks: their length and shape help accident reconstruction experts estimate how fast a car was moving when the driver braked or lost control.
- Crush damage: the depth and pattern of damage to both vehicles reflects how much force was involved.
- Rest positions: how far the vehicles traveled after impact before they stopped.
- Debris field: where glass and vehicle parts landed on the road.
- The police report: officers record road conditions, statements made at the scene, and any citation they issued.
Witness statements help too. Someone who saw the car going too fast or weaving through traffic can be strong evidence. Businesses, homes, and traffic cameras nearby may have video of the crash, and your lawyer can request that footage before it is recorded over.
Damage to your vehicle tells part of the story, but not all of it. A car with modest damage can still carry a person with a serious injury, so insurance adjusters who point to light damage are only looking at half the picture. Your medical records matter as much as the photos.
Our team at Sean Regan Law works with accident reconstruction experts and investigators to understand exactly what happened and why the speeding driver is at fault.
We believe you should not have to deal with significant injuries and carry the burden of someone else’s bad choices. If speeding caused your injury accident, we will use every tool available to prove it and help you get the support you need.
Evidence That Can Disappear After a Crash
Some of the strongest proof of speed does not last. Skid marks fade under traffic and rain. Many business and home cameras record over old footage on a regular cycle. Witnesses move, change phone numbers, and forget details.
Many vehicles also carry an event data recorder, often called a black box, that can capture speed and braking in the seconds before a crash. That data can be lost if the vehicle is repaired, sold, or sent to salvage. A lawyer can send a written request asking the other driver and their insurer to preserve the vehicle and its data while the claim is pending.
If a truck or other work vehicle hit you, the company’s records can matter too. Truck drivers often work long shifts under pressure to meet delivery deadlines, and that pressure can show up as speed. Sean Regan Law also handles commercial vehicle accident claims and crashes involving Uber and Lyft drivers.
How Our Auto Accident Injury Lawyer Helps You
After a crash, insurance companies often try to pay as little as possible. They might even say the accident was partly your fault. That’s why it matters to work with a lawyer who focuses on injury cases, not just insurance claims or fender benders.
Our team gathers the proof: how fast the other driver was going, how fast they should have been going for that road and those conditions, and why that speed caused the crash. An experienced car accident attorney makes sure your side of the story is backed by evidence.
Many people do not realize how much they lose after being hurt in a crash. You might miss work, face ongoing treatment costs, or live with pain that lasts a long time. We pursue compensation for those losses so you can move forward.
Sean Regan is a New Orleans native and a graduate of LSU and Loyola Law School. He began his legal career at personal injury firms in New Orleans before starting his own firm, where, as a smaller practice, each case gets his personal attention.
Speeding and Proving Fault in Louisiana
In Louisiana, a driver whose speeding causes a crash can be held responsible for the harm that speed caused. Fault is not always all or nothing, though. The other driver’s insurer may argue that you share some of the blame, and any share of fault assigned to you can reduce what you recover. That makes clear proof of the other driver’s speed even more important.
We work hard to find the facts that show the other driver was speeding. That can include accident reconstruction experts, black box data from the cars, and witness accounts. Knowing which evidence matters, and securing it before it is gone, can make a real difference in your case.
Louisiana also limits how long you have to file suit. For most injury claims from a crash on or after July 1, 2024, the prescriptive period (the filing deadline often called a statute of limitations) is two years under La. C.C. art. 3493.11. Crashes before that date generally fall under the older one-year period, and some claims, such as those against public entities, follow different rules. An attorney can confirm which deadline applies to you.
At Sean Regan Law, we know how hard it is to deal with the pain and stress after an injury accident. You deserve a team that listens to you, works hard on your case, and keeps you informed about the facts every step of the way.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long after an accident can you call a lawyer?
You can call a lawyer at any point, including the day of the crash. Calling sooner gives your lawyer a chance to request video and vehicle data before it is erased or the cars are repaired. The outer limit is Louisiana’s prescriptive period, which is two years for most injuries from crashes on or after July 1, 2024, with exceptions.
What are common mistakes in injury claims?
Common ones include giving a recorded statement to the other driver’s insurer before talking with a lawyer, accepting the insurance company’s first offer, posting about the crash on social media, and letting gaps form in your records of medical visits and missed work. Each one can give an adjuster a reason to pay less.
Is it better to sue or settle?
It depends on the evidence, the insurance coverage available, and whether an offer fairly covers your documented losses. Many injury claims resolve through settlement, and filing a petition (the document that starts a lawsuit in Louisiana) does not end settlement talks. Your lawyer can explain the tradeoffs, but the decision to settle is yours. If your case goes to court, Sean Regan represents you there.
Should you sue a drunk driver?
You have the right to bring a claim against a driver whose intoxication caused your injuries. Louisiana Civil Code article 2315.4 also allows exemplary damages, meant to punish, when an intoxicated driver’s wanton or reckless disregard for the safety of others caused the injuries. Whether a lawsuit makes sense in your situation is something to discuss with an attorney.
Contact Us Today
If you were injured in a crash caused by speeding, Sean Regan Law is ready to help. Call our team at (504) 888-7777 to schedule a free consultation. Our office is at 4919 Canal St., Suite 304, in New Orleans, LA, and we work with injured people across New Orleans, Metairie, Kenner, and the surrounding area.
This article provides general information about Louisiana law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship.