Compensating Street Racing Accident Injuries in California

Southern California has a street racing culture, and while there may be a cultural component, street racing is also hazardous and often leaves innocent bystanders injured – or worse.

The hallmark of street racing is extreme speed, which is a double-edged sword when it comes to risk – not only does it make accidents more likely but also greatly increases the chance that they will be fatal accidents.

If you or someone you love has been harmed by someone else’s negligence in a street racing accident, seek the professional legal counsel of an experienced Beverly Hills car accident attorney today.

Street Racing Laws in California

In California, street racing is illegal both for the street racers themselves and the spectators. The charges imposed include those related to drag racing, speed contests, and reckless driving. While street racing can take many forms, the one constant is that it puts others on and near the road at serious risk.

Potential legal fines and penalties for drag racing charges include:

• Arrest for either a misdemeanor or felony – depending on the seriousness of the charge
• Vehicle impoundment for up to 30 days
• Up to 3 months behind bars for a conviction
• Fines of up to $1,000 for a conviction
• 40 hours of community service

Street racing can also lead to charges of reckless driving or driving under the influence (as applicable). If it isn’t the first charge of this nature that the driver has faced, the penalties rise accordingly.

Further, if the street racer leaves someone else injured, they can face increased jail time and expenses in the form of legal damages – or losses – experienced by the injured party.

Illegal Street Racing Crashes

Because street racing is all about speed and power, there is plenty of room for things to go wrong. Street races are informal affairs, which means there is no guarantee that motorists who have no idea about the race that’s transpiring won’t enter its space, putting themselves at extreme risk.

The fact is that excess speed is inherently dangerous for both the following reasons:

• The driver has less time and distance to react safely to anything unexpected that occurs ahead.
• The greater the speed, the more significant the impact of any ensuing accidents, which means that the accidents are much more likely to prove fatal.

When you combine speed with the illegal nature of the competition on the streets of Southern California, it amounts to a recipe for disaster, and innocent motorists who get caught up in it can pay the ultimate price.

Injuries Sustained in Street Racing Accidents

With high speeds, more serious injuries are expected, and street racing delivers.

Common examples include:

• Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
• Spinal cord injuries, including permanent paralyzation
• Injuries that require amputation
• Broken bones
• Life-threatening internal injuries
• Death

Seeking Compensation for a Street Racing Crash

If you have suffered an injury by a motorist who was engaged in the illegal sport of street racing, the physical, financial, and emotional losses you experience as a result are likely to be immense, and they divide out into four basic categories.

Property damage

The easiest damage to cope with – because it’s easily repairable or replaceable – is the property damage to your vehicle and its contents. This damage, however, is likely just the tip of the iceberg.

Medical bills

The cost of your medical needs after sustaining a street racing accident injury is likely to be very high, and these needs are not likely to go away anytime soon. If your injuries lead to secondary medical concerns, you suffer complications, or both, these costs will likely be ongoing.

Lost income

While you’re focused on regaining your health and well-being, you may be off the job and will likely experience pay cuts as a result. If your ability to do your job is affected or your earning potential is thwarted, the financial effects will be much greater.

Pain and suffering

The physical and emotional pain and suffering you experience as a result of being injured in a violent accident that was caused by someone else’s illegal games can be difficult to overstate.

Injured From a Street Race? Call a Beverly Hills Car Accident Attorney

Street racing is illegal and exceptionally dangerous and can also harm innocent motorists like you. If you’ve suffered an injury by a motorist engaging in illegal street racing, the experienced Beverly Hills street racing accident attorneys at One Law Group have the legal insight, skill, and experience to help.

Learn more by contacting us online or calling us at 310-923-9420 today.

FAQs About Street Racing Accident Cases