What Are the Standard Speed Limit Laws in Georgia?
Unless otherwise posted, the general rules for speeds in Georgia are as follows;
- 30 miles per hour in any residential or urban areas or streets
- 35 miles per hour on any unpaved county roads
- 70 miles per hour on a rural interstate highway
- 65 miles per hour on an urban interstate or highway divided by multiple lanes
- 55 miles per hour in all other areas
As mentioned, if a speed limit is posted that doesn’t reflect the above list, it must be followed. Temporary changes to speed limits may exist due to construction or other reasons deemed necessary by the Georgia Department of Transportation or the Georgia Department of Public Safety.
It is also important to note that school zones typically have a lowered maximum speed limits during certain times of the day for safety and should be adhered to.
What is a Super Speeder in Georgia?
In 2010, Georgia enacted a law to deter excessive speeding habits. This law is called the Super Speeder Law. If a driver is found to be speeding in excess of 75 miles per hour on a two-lane road or in excess of 85 miles per hour on any street or highway in the state of Georgia, they are subject to additional penalties.
A $200 fee may be charged in addition to the original speeding ticket in accordance with the Super Speeder law. If the driver fails to pay the speeding offense and the additional $200 fee within 120 days of issuance, they risk losing their license or driving privileges. They will need to reinstate their license at additional expense.
What is Modified Comparative Fault?
All states follow a specific “fault” rule regarding who is at fault for an accident and, therefore, can pursue damages following an accident. Georgia follows a modified comparative fault rule. This rule means that multiple parties can recover damages following an accident based on the percentage of fault they contributed.
Victims who are more than 50% responsible for or at fault for the accident typically cannot recover damages. Those less than 50% responsible for the accident can generally pursue personal injury compensation.
If it is found that your actions contributed to the accident occurring, a percentage of fault will be assigned to you, and this percentage will reduce the number of damages awarded. For example, if you are found to be 20% at fault for damages, and the total damages awarded were $10,000, you would receive $8,000 rather than the total amount based on your percentage of fault.
Why is Adhering to Speed Limits Crucial to a Personal Injury Case?
Based on the modified comparative fault rule, if it is proven that you were speeding before the accident occurred and this led to the incident, you can be found partially at fault.
Based on the above example, let’s say you were traveling on an unpaved county road in Georgia and got into a car accident. Suppose you were traveling at speeds exceeding 35 miles per hour. In that case, you were unlawfully speeding and, therefore, can be found to be partially at fault for the accident occurring despite other circumstances.
If this is true, your percentage of fault would be assigned, and this amount would reduce the total damages awarded.
Minimum Speed on Georgia Interstates
Speeding is an issue and leads to countless accidents each day. Conversely, driving too slow can impede traffic flow and lead to accidents. Minimum speed limit signs are also common, so watching for them and adhering to the law is essential. Such a slow speed in a motor vehicle, whether its in an urban or residential district, construction zones, or a multi lane divided highway, is dangerous for other drivers. It is important to maintain normal and reasonable movement on Georgia interstates, and pay attention to the posted speed limits.
The exception to the minimum speed limit is if there are weather or road conditions present, making the minimum speed limits unreasonable. For example, if a significant rainstorm makes the streets slippery or the potential for hydroplaning exists, you may reduce your speed to accommodate and likely not impede traffic flow.
If there are no present road or weather conditions and you feel you aren’t able to adhere to the minimum speed limit rules, you should consider an alternative route to avoid causing accidents.
I Was Speeding Before an Accident and I Need a Lawyer
Experienced personal injury attorneys are invaluable to you after a car accident. Speeding is one of the leading causes of an accident, but it doesn’t mean you are not eligible for damages.
Personal injury attorneys can help gather evidence to support how the accident occurred and what fault each party had in the cause of the accident. Evidence can consist of witness testimony, investigations of vehicle damage, accident recreation, video footage, and more.
If you were involved in an accident, it is imperative that you speak with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney before agreeing to settlements or admitting fault. Insurance companies will rush to get you to admit fault and settle for what may be far less than you deserve.
Rely on an experienced personal injury attorney to have your best interest at heart and establish the facts of the case so you can pursue the damages you deserve.
Call our office today at 706-420-2949 to learn more about how our competent team can assist you. Since 2003, we have been helping clients and their families move forward after an accident. Before establishing ourselves as personal injury attorneys, our team has extensive experience defending major insurance corporations. This experience gives us a unique perspective and passion for protecting our clients against big corporations and ensuring you get the compensation you deserve, not a dollar less.
We look forward to your call.