Speeding is one of the most dangerous choices a driver can make, and in Denton, Texas, it happens every single day. From the congested stretch of I-35 near the University of North Texas campus to the busy intersections along Loop 288, drivers who exceed safe speeds put everyone around them at risk. If a speeding driver hit you or someone you love, you have legal rights under Texas law, and Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys is here to help you use them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Texas law draws a clear line on speed. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 545.351, an operator may not drive at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the circumstances then existing. This is known as the basic speed rule, and it does more than just set a posted limit. Speed zone regulations are based on Section 545.351, which states in part that an operator may not drive at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent under the circumstances then existing, and prima facie limits are those limits that are reasonable and prudent under normal conditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What does that mean for your case? A driver can be legally speeding even if they are under the posted limit. Under Section 545.351(c), an operator must drive at an appropriate reduced speed if approaching and crossing an intersection or railroad grade crossing, approaching and going around a curve, or if a special hazard exists with regard to traffic, including pedestrians, or weather or highway conditions. So if someone was doing 40 mph on a rain-slicked Carroll Boulevard during a downpour and hit your car, they may have violated the basic speed rule even if the posted limit is 45 mph.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This matters enormously for your injury claim. When a driver breaks the basic speed rule, they have breached their duty of care to other road users. That breach is a key element of negligence, which is the foundation of most car accident injury claims in Texas. A police report that cites a driver for speeding, or evidence that road conditions demanded a lower speed, can be powerful proof that the at-fault driver acted negligently. The personal injury lawyers<\/a> at Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys know how to use Texas Transportation Code Section 545.351 to build a strong case for injured clients throughout Denton County.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The numbers behind speeding crashes are sobering. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), speeding killed 11,288 people in 2024 alone. NHTSA data found that the number of people killed in speeding-related traffic crashes climbed 16 percent from 2019 to 2024, representing 28 percent of U.S. traffic fatalities in 2024. Texas is not immune to this trend. The leading crash contributors continue to be speeding, impairment, distraction, and lack of seatbelt use.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In Texas specifically, speed-related crashes are a persistent problem. In 2023, there were 519,876 crashes in Texas, and speeding was confirmed as by far the biggest car crash contributor, with almost 50,000 more crashes for that reason than any other. Denton sits at the crossroads of I-35E and I-35W, two of the most heavily traveled corridors in North Texas. Drivers rushing through Denton on their way to Dallas or Fort Worth, or cutting across town on University Drive (US-380), often push speeds well beyond what is safe. Residential areas near Denton’s historic square, the UNT campus, and neighborhoods around Ryan High School and Denton High School all see the consequences of speeding drivers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speeding crashes also tend to be more severe than other types of crashes. Higher speeds mean greater force on impact, which translates directly into more serious injuries. Whiplash, traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, broken bones, and internal injuries are all more likely when a vehicle is traveling at excessive speed. If you suffered serious injuries in a speeding crash anywhere in Denton County, do not wait to speak with a car accident lawyer<\/a> who understands the full scope of your damages.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Proving that a driver was speeding is not always as simple as pointing to a ticket. Insurance companies often push back on fault, especially when there is no citation. That is why building a strong evidence file matters from the very beginning. The types of evidence that can prove speeding in a Denton crash include the police crash report, witness statements, traffic and surveillance camera footage, skid mark analysis, vehicle black box (EDR) data, and accident reconstruction expert testimony.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Denton has traffic cameras at several major intersections, including those along Loop 288 and University Drive. If your crash happened near one of these locations, that footage can be critical. Physical evidence at the scene, such as the length and pattern of skid marks, can help an accident reconstruction expert calculate how fast a vehicle was traveling before impact. This kind of technical evidence is often what separates a strong claim from a weak one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your own conduct matters too. Texas follows a modified comparative fault system. Under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code, Section 33.001 (Proportionate Responsibility), a claimant may recover damages only if their percentage of responsibility is 50 percent or less. Under Texas’s comparative negligence rule, commonly known as the “51% bar,” you can recover damages after an accident if you’re found to be 50% or less at fault, but your compensation will be reduced in proportion to your share of fault. Insurance adjusters know this rule well, and they will try to assign as much fault to you as possible. Having an experienced car accident lawyer<\/a> working your case helps counter those tactics and protect your right to full compensation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas law allows injured crash victims to pursue several categories of compensation. These fall into two main groups: economic damages and non-economic damages. Economic damages cover things you can put a dollar amount on directly, such as medical bills, future medical costs, lost wages, and property damage to your vehicle. Non-economic damages cover losses that are harder to quantify, like pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and loss of consortium.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In a speeding crash, the injuries are often serious enough to generate substantial medical expenses. Think about a crash on I-35 near Texas Health Presbyterian Hospital Denton at 3000 North I-35. A victim transported there with a traumatic brain injury or spinal cord damage will face emergency care, imaging, surgery, rehabilitation, and ongoing treatment. Those costs can reach hundreds of thousands of dollars. Your claim should account for every dollar, including future care your doctors say you will need.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Lost wages matter too. If your injuries kept you out of work for weeks or months, that income loss is recoverable. If your injuries are permanent and affect your ability to work long-term, the value of your lost earning capacity is also part of your claim. Pain and suffering damages in Texas are not capped in most car accident cases, which means the full human cost of your injuries can be presented to a jury or negotiated in a settlement. A car accident attorney<\/a> from Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys can walk you through every category of damages that applies to your situation. Every case is different, and past results do not guarantee the same outcome in another matter.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When you are dealing with injuries, medical bills, and an insurance company that is already working against you, you need a legal team that is ready to fight on your behalf. Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys serves injury victims throughout Denton, Denton County, and the surrounding communities. The firm handles car accident cases on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless your case results in a recovery for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The team at Chandler Ross knows Denton. They know the roads where speeding crashes happen most often, including the I-35 corridor, the Loop 288 interchange, and busy surface streets like Teasley Lane and Carroll Boulevard. They understand how Denton County courts handle personal injury cases, and they know how to gather the evidence needed to prove fault and damages under Texas law. Whether your case involves a rear-end crash caused by a speeding driver, a high-speed T-bone at a Denton intersection, or a rollover accident on a North Texas highway, the firm is prepared to handle it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If you were hurt by a speeding driver in the Gainesville area or anywhere else in North Texas, the firm also serves clients in those communities. Victims in those areas can reach a car accident lawyer<\/a> who handles North Texas injury cases. For those in Decatur or Wise County, the firm also assists clients who need a car accident lawyer<\/a> familiar with their local area and courts. Do not wait to get legal help. Texas law gives most car accident victims two years from the date of the crash to file a lawsuit, but evidence disappears quickly. Call Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys today at (940) 800-2500 for a free consultation. There is no obligation, and you pay nothing unless we recover for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Call 911 right away and get a police report filed. Seek medical attention even if you feel okay, because some injuries like whiplash or traumatic brain injuries do not show symptoms immediately. Take photos of the scene, your vehicle, and any visible injuries. Collect contact information from witnesses. Do not discuss fault with the other driver or their insurance company before speaking with an attorney. Contact Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys at (940) 800-2500 as soon as possible so evidence can be preserved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yes. A traffic citation is helpful but not required to win a personal injury claim. Your attorney can use accident reconstruction analysis, vehicle data from the event data recorder (black box), surveillance footage, skid mark measurements, and witness testimony to prove the other driver was traveling at an unsafe speed. Under Texas Transportation Code Section 545.351, a driver can be legally negligent for speeding even without a citation if the circumstances showed that a lower speed was required.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Texas follows the proportionate responsibility rule under Civil Practice and Remedies Code Section 33.001. You can recover damages as long as you are found 50 percent or less at fault for the crash. If you are assigned 51 percent or more of the fault, you recover nothing. Insurance companies often try to shift blame onto injured victims to reduce or eliminate payouts. Having an attorney on your side helps counter those efforts and keeps fault properly assigned to the speeding driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Speeding crashes generate far more force than low-speed collisions, so the injuries tend to be serious. Common injuries include traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord damage, herniated discs, broken bones, internal organ injuries, and severe soft tissue damage. Burn injuries and facial injuries are also more likely in high-speed crashes where airbags deploy or fires occur. If you suffered any of these injuries in a Denton crash, the full cost of your care, including future treatment, should be part of your claim.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys handles car accident cases on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay no attorney fees upfront and no fees at all unless your case results in a financial recovery for you. Your initial consultation is free. You can discuss your case, understand your rights under Texas law, and get honest answers about your options without any financial commitment. Call (940) 800-2500 to get started today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Content prepared by Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys, whose principal office is located in Denton, Texas. This page is attorney advertising. Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome in any future case, as results depend on the specific facts and law applicable to each matter.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\nThe Real Danger of Speeding Crashes in Denton and Across Texas<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Proving Fault in a Denton Speeding Accident Case<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What Compensation Can You Recover After a Speeding Accident?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Why Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys Is the Right Choice for Your Denton Speeding Accident Case<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
FAQs About Speeding Accident Lawyers in Denton<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
What should I do immediately after a speeding accident in Denton?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Can I still recover compensation if the speeding driver did not get a ticket?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How does Texas comparative fault law affect my speeding accident claim?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
What types of injuries are most common in speeding accidents?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
How much does it cost to hire Chandler Ross Injury Attorneys for a speeding accident case?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n