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Drag Racing on the Streets of South Florida: A Persistent, Dangerous Problem that Can Have Deadly Consequences

Street racing is a major problem in many South Florida communities. Teenagers, young adults and even middle-aged and older drivers often endanger the lives and property of other individuals by recklessly driving at high speeds simply for a momentary thrill. In Hollywood in Broward County, a recent incident highlighted the dangers associated with street racing. According to a recent report from a local Broward County ABC News affiliate, the incident took place in the early morning hours on a weekday. Local residents interviewed by the news reported hearing loud noises followed by a BMW automobile racing away from the scene. Five vehicles along the street were damaged in what police believe was an illegal street race in which one car flipped when trying to pass the other car. Although thankfully no one was injured or killed in the incident, a Florida Power & Light utility pole also was knocked down by the street racers before they fled the scene.

Even before this most recent incident in Hollywood, street racing on South Florida’s roads has been a recurring problem for many years. For instance, according to a 2016 investigation by Miami’s Channel 7 news, incidents of street racing in South Florida have increased since the 2014 closure of the Countyline Dragway in north-western Miami-Dade County. The closure of the dragway, where drag racing by local drivers was legal, has pushed racing enthusiasts out onto the surface streets. This can result in accidents that result in serious injuries or even death to other motorists due to the excessive speeds that street racers travel at. These speeds make it easy to lose control of the drag racer’s vehicle and can increase the danger to nearby motorists, pedestrians and even spectators to the races, as reflected in the substantial property damage caused by the recent accident in Broward County.

Wrongful Death and Personal Injury Lawsuits Involving Street Racing under Florida Law

Motor vehicle accidents caused by street racers often can be fatal or result in serious injuries to other motorists or bystanders. These accidents also can cause substantial property damage, as reflected in the Broward County incident described above. Florida law protects the rights of those who have been injured or killed by a driver’s negligence or recklessness, including someone who was involved in a street race. In the case of a death caused by a street racer’s negligence or recklessness, the estate of the person killed as well as the decedent’s surviving spouse can recover a broad assortment of damages. The same is true for those who may be injured by a street racer. In addition to pain and suffering, those injured or killed by someone engaged in a street race can recover any medical expenses necessitated by the street racer’s actions, lost income and property damage. Therefore, in the scenario in Hollywood above, if one of the street racers had injured a bystander, the bystander could sue the street racer and his insurer for expenses related to medical treatment for his or her injuries, any lost income (both past and future) due to those injuries, and any other financial losses the victim suffered. This also includes any pain and suffering, both past and future, the victim may have experienced as a result of the street racer’s actions.

Contact the Experienced Accident Attorneys of Schwed, Adams, Sobel & McGinley if You or a Loved One Have Been Injured By A Street Racer

If you or a loved one have been seriously injured or killed by a driver’s negligence or reckless actions caused by a motorist engaged in street racing, the experienced motor vehicle accident attorneys at Schwed, Adams, Sobel & McGinley are here for you. Our experienced personal injury attorneys have over 150 years of legal experience representing victims of motor vehicle accidents, including wrongful death and personal injury lawsuits where a client’s death or serious injuries were caused by someone else’s negligence or recklessness in participating in a street race. If you, a family member or a loved one has been injured or killed as a result of a street race, contact the experienced personal injury attorneys at Schwed, Adams, Sobel & McGinley today for a free consultation at contact@schwedlawfirm.com or 877.694.6079.