(U.S. Law and generally) Speeding is the number two cause of U.S. traffic fatalities, second only to DUIs, and over 725,000 people will be injured each year as a result of a speeding driver. Street racing, sometimes referred to as drag racing, might not be the cause of a lot of these fatalities, but it has been the cause of some of the deadliest speeding related accidents in U.S. history.
Why is Street Racing so Deadly?
Most drivers who are involved in a street race will accelerate past the 100 mph mark, and this makes it extremely difficult for them to control their vehicles. Another very dangerous aspect of street racing is that it often takes places in areas that are heavily populated. Instead of going to a more rural area where the risk of injuring someone who is not involved in the race would be minimized, most street races are intentionally held in urban areas. Regardless of whether it is the thrill of getting caught or the addition of several obstacles, such as other cars, that causes this to happen, each willing participant in an urban street race is knowingly putting the lives of other people in danger.
The Deadly Consequences of Street Racing
There are countless examples of street racing gone wrong; one recent tragic accident took place in Miami, where one of the participants of a three car drag race lost control of his Toyota Scion after exceeding 100 mph. Alejandro Hernandez, the driver of the Scion, was thrown from his vehicle as a result of crashing into a Ford Expedition. Hernandez and two of the passengers in the Expedition were rushed to the hospital and listed in critical condition. The tragic accident also claimed the lives of two of the four family members who were in the Expedition, including a 15-year-old, and the 19-year-old passenger of the Scion.
This accident is a prime example of how quickly things can go wrong when drivers decide to participate in a street race. There is no amount of thrill seeking that can justify killing three people and seriously injuring two others, and Hernandez will have to deal with the legal ramifications of all of these issues if he is able to recover from his own serious injuries. The fact that he was participating in a street race when he crashed his car is going to definitely be a major issue during his trial, and he will be charged with reckless driving in addition to a long list of other charges.
The Annual Death Toll
Although it is estimated that only 135 people die each year as a result of street racing, these are all deaths that are completely avoidable. According to our Miami car accident attorney, it is extremely common for the drivers to end up dying as a result of their participation in an illegal street race, but incidents such as the one in Miami also occur every year. It is tragic to consider that another driver can be completely following the rules of the road and have their life ended by the actions of an irresponsible street racer, but that is exactly what happens several times a year.
If you are tempted to participate in a street race, you should very carefully consider all of the potential consequences. After all, a couple of minutes of fun are never worth the risk of either dying or spending the rest of your life in jail.
Anthony Joseph is a freelance writer, and a contributing author for the Miami car accident attorney firm of Steinger, Iscoe & Greene. After you’ve been hurt in a car accident, you likely have a lot of questions—and you shouldn’t always count on the insurance company to tell you the entire truth about what you’re owed. It’s always better to let an attorney explain your rights and options to you.