Street racing is an illegal activity that has been around for thousands of years. It was popularized in the United States after World War II when returning soldiers brought their love of racing from Europe.
The sport has seen its fair share of highs and lows, but it’s also been plagued by death and injury, and it still is today. In 2020 alone, the law keepers issued 341 arrests and citations in speeding and street racing cases.
Fatalities Caused by Street Car Racing
It’s important to remember that street racing is illegal and a public safety issue for the community. For example, a person was recently killed in St. Louis during an accident that police report may have involved street racing.
Street racing is defined as two or more vehicles racing on public streets, highways, or roads against one another for sport without prior permission from law enforcement officials or local authorities. This article aims not just to inform you about the dangers of street car racing but also to help keep you safe by telling you of the consequences if caught participating in this activity.
Street racing has been linked with numerous fatalities over the years due to high speeds reached on crowded roadways at night, with other drivers unable to see what’s happening around them until it’s too late.
Many drivers involved in these accidents have suffered permanent brain damage and broken bones, which could have been avoided had they not been speeding down busy streets while trying not to get caught by police officers patrolling nearby neighborhoods looking out specifically for people engaging in this type of behavior.
What to Do If You Are Hit by a Car During Street Racing?
If you are hit by a car during street racing, call 911. However, you must say that it is an emergency if the injuries are severe. The thing is that 911 receives 240 million calls annually, and most of these calls have nothing to do with crime or emergencies. Hence, letting the person know it is an emergency will ensure the help arrives quickly.
The next thing to do is get to a hospital as soon as possible. If no significant damage is done to your body, rest before meeting up with an attorney.
Get copies of all medical records related to treatment received after being in an accident caused by illegal activities such as drag racing or street racing so that, if necessary, you can submit those documents along with our claim. A lawyer can help you with that. However, you must call a local attorney.
Consider the example of a recent mass street race in St. Louis, Missouri. Hundreds of people blocked St. Louis streets for a race. You can hire a local attorney if you are injured during such a case. You can also look for professionals experienced with cases involving a specific type of vehicle. For example, if you get hit by a truck, hire a St. Louis truck accident lawyer for help.
TorHoerman Law, a law firm operating in Missouri, points out that a truck accident lawyer can be different from a car accident in that multiple parties can be involved. And if it is due to a street race accident, almost everyone participating in the race might be at fault. Hence, hiring a lawyer with experience in such cases is best.
Injuries Caused by Street Car Racing
Street racing is a dangerous activity that can cause severe injuries to racers and bystanders. It can also result in damage to property, including cars and homes. They can also be fatal. For instance, a 4-year-old boy was a victim of selfish street racing on the busy Des Moines road.
However, most street car racing accidents lead to severe injuries, such as the following:
Head and Brain Injuries
Head and brain injuries are the most common and serious injuries caused by street racing. A head injury can be life-threatening or at least cause permanent disability or death.
- Head injuries include concussions, skull fractures, and bleeding inside the skull that causes swelling to the brain tissue.
- Brain injuries include bleeding around the brain itself and bruising of nerve fibers in areas such as those controlling thinking ability or speech.
Spinal Cord Injuries
Spinal cord injuries result in loss of function, loss of sensation, and paralysis. They can also be caused by a car accident or other trauma that results in a sudden stop or impact on the head and neck area.
The spinal cord is the bundle of nerves that carries messages from your brain to other parts of your body. It helps control things like movement, balance, and muscle tone. If damage occurs to this nerve tissue, it can cause:
- Loss of sensation below the point where the damage occurred
- Loss of limb movement depending on where along the spinal cord’s length was damaged
Broken Bones and Fractures
The most serious broken bones can be life-threatening, as they may puncture organs or break through the skin.
Broken ribs are especially dangerous because they can cause internal bleeding, leading to death if not treated immediately. Broken bones in the chest or head can also be fatal because they may puncture a vital organ or bleed into the brain, causing permanent disability or death.
Other serious broken bones occur in joints such as ankles, knees, and elbows. These injuries limit mobility and make walking difficult for people with them.
PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a mental health disorder that can occur after a person experiences a traumatic event. Since car accidents are significant events in someone’s life, they can lead to PTSD. In fact, data from Forbes show that almost 3.5 million adults annually experience PTSD after experiencing a car accident themself or witnessing the same.
PTSD can cause intense feelings of stress, fear, and sadness. People with PTSD may also experience nightmares or flashbacks of the traumatic event. In addition to these symptoms, people with PTSD often feel detached from others and have difficulty sleeping or concentrating on daily tasks.
The Impact of Street Car Racing on Communities
Street car racing hurts communities. It can cause fatal accidents, injuries, and property damage. The families of those killed in street car racing accidents are devastated by the loss of their loved ones and often suffer financial hardships.
Some people injured or had property damaged by street car racing may be unable to work for months or years after the accident, costing them wages that would have helped support their families.
The environment is also negatively impacted by street car racing because toxic substances are released into the air when cars crash into each other at high speeds. This pollution affects both humans and animals alike.
In addition to the environmental damage caused by auto crashes during races, there is evidence linking noise pollution from loud engines with increased stress levels among nearby residents, another reason local governments should take action against illegal street racing activities.
Conclusion
Street car racing is dangerous. It can cause severe injuries and even death for those involved in the race and bystanders. The collision risk increases when cars travel at high speeds near each other.