News & opinion Street Racing Accidents in Texas

Street Racing Accidents in Texas

Houston Auto Crash Attorney

D

iving is d

nge

ous enough

ithout people d

iving

ecklessly. Unfo

tun

tely, m

ny people dis

eg

d the s

fety of othe

s fo

thei

o

n th

ills. St

eet cing is just one p

ev

lent ex

mple.

If you o

loved one

s inju

ed bec

use of someone’s poo

decision to st

eet

ce in Tex

s, you dese

ve to

ecove

compens

tion fo

you

inju

ies.

e

d on to unde

st

nd some of the l

s

ound st

eet cing in Tex

s

nd ho

to

ecove

if you h

ve been inju

ed.

Tex

s St

eet

cing L

s

St

eet cing feels like something you only see in the movies, but it h

ppens mo

e often th

n you

ould expect. On

ve

ge,<

h

ef=”https://insu

ify.com

insights/st

tes-

ith-the-most-st

eet-ce

s/” t

get=”_bl

nk"

el=”nofollo

noopene

“> nine out of eve

y 100,000<> d

ive

s h

ve

eceived

cit

tion fo

st

eet cing. It c

n be difficult to t

ck the t

ue scope of st

eet

cing bec

use it is

n unde

epo

ted c

ime,

nd it’s common fo

st

eet cing

ccidents to be

tt

ibuted to

nothe

c

use.

hile specific numbe

s of st

eet

cing

ccidents in Tex

s

e difficult to t

ck, the

e is no sho

t

ge of ne

s

ticles

epo

ting the t

gic

esults of these

ccidents. Tex

s<

h

ef="https:

/st

tutes.c

pitol.tex

s.gov

docs/TN/htm/TN.545.htm” t

get=”_bl

nk"

el=”nofollo

noopene

“> l

> m

kes it cle

th

t st

eet

cing on public high

ys is illeg

l. Specific

lly, it is illeg

l fony individu

l to p

ticip

te in:
  • -level=”1″>

    ce<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">

    vehicle speed competition o

    contest<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">

    d

    g

    ce o

    ccele

    tion contest

  • i

    -level="1">

    test of physic

    l endunce of the opeto

    of

    vehicle<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">In connection

    ith

    dg ce,

    n exhibition of vehicle speed o

    ccele

    tion o

    to m

    ke

    vehicle speed

    eco

    d<

    li>

viol

tion of the st

eet cing l is

c

ime. Viol

to

s c

n be found guilty of

Cl

ss B misdeme

nond f

ce pen

lties including

fine of up to $2,000

nd

o

180 d

ys in j

il

s

ell

s suspension of thei

d

ive

’s license fo

up to one ye

. If the d

ive

s intoxic

ted o

found

ith

n open cont

ine

of

lcohol, they c

n

lso be found guilty of

Cl

ss

misdeme

nohich is punish

ble by up to

ye in j

il

nd

o

fine of up to $4,000 in

ddition to

d

ive

’s license suspension.

s you c

n im

gine, these pen

lties only continue to inc

e

se if the

cing

esulted in bodily hm o

de

th to

nothe

pe

son.

The st

te is

esponsible fo

pu

suing c

imin

l ch

ges

g

inst st

eet ces. This

ill be d

iven by

p

osecuto

.

c

imin

l c

se

ill not, ho

eve

, include the cost of

ecove

y fo victim’s d

m

ges. Inju

ed victims must pu

sue thei

o

n

ecove

y in civil cou

t.

ecove

ing D

m

ges F

om

St

eet ce

The st

te

nd p

osecutoill h

ndle c

imin

l

ction

g

inst the d

ive

, but victims must pu

sue thei

o

n

ecove

y

g

inst the d

ive

. To

ecove

d

m

ges, you

ill need to demonstte th

t the defend

nt’s negligent o

intention

l

ctions c

used you

inju

ies. Bec

use the c

s

e likely to be t

veling

t ext

emely d

nge

ous speeds, the odds of suffe

ing seve

e inju

ies o

de

th in

st

eet cing

ccident

e high. In 2018, speeding d

ive

s killed<

h

ef=”https://

.nhts

.gov/

isky-d

iving/speeding” t

get=”_bl

nk"

el=”nofollo

noopene

“>

lmost 10,000<> people. Speeding inc

e

ses the odds of

n

ccident bec

use the d

ive

is mo

e likely to lose cont

ol of the vehicle. Speeding

lso inc

e

ses the stopping dist

nce

equi

ed to

void

h

zd,

nd it

educes the effectiveness of occup

nt p

otection equipment. Common inju

ies

fte speed cing c

ccident include:

  • i

    -level="1">ong>He

    d inju

    ies: ong> In

    speeding

    ccident, the

    e is

    high likelihood th

    t

    p

    ssenge

    ill st

    ike thei

    he

    d on

    su

    f

    ce. Such

    blo

    c

    n c

    use f

    ctu

    es, l

    ce

    tions, o

    concussion.

    he

    d

    ound c

    n le

    ve the victim d

    zed fo

    sho

    t time o

    suffe

    ing long-te

    m consequences.

  • i

    -level="1">ong><

    h

    ef=”https://c

    inju

    yvictims.com

    tbi-t

    e

    tment-cost/”>T

    um

    tic bin inju

    y (TBI) >:<

    st

    ong> He

    d inju

    ies e not the only

    isk

    hen

    p

    ssenge

    suffe

    s

    blo

    to the he

    d. The

    e is

    lso

    possibility of

    TBI. TBI symptoms v

    y

    idely

    nd depend on the individu

    l

    s

    ell

    s the seve

    ity

    nd loc

    tion of the blo

    . TBIs often

    esult in long-te

    m dis

    bilities

    nd b

    in d

    m

    ge.

    t thei

    most ext

    eme, they c

    n c

    use bin de

    th.

  • i

    -level="1">ong>Spin

    l inju

    ies: ong> The spin

    l co

    d is the bundle of ne

    ves th

    t

    llo

    s the bin to communic

    te

    ith the body,

    nd

    ny spin

    l co

    d inju

    y h

    s the potenti

    l to

    lte victim’s no

    m

    l life. The symptoms

    nd inju

    ies

    ill depend on the inju

    ed e

    of the spin

    l co

    d, but c

    n nge f

    om numbness

    nd l

    ck of body function cont

    ol to muscle

    e

    kness

    nd p

    lysis.<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">ong><

    h

    ef=”https://c

    inju

    yvictims.com

    neck-

    nd-b

    ck-inju

    y-settlements

    “>Neck

    nd b

    ck inju

    ies<>:<

    st

    ong> Spin

    l co

    d inju

    ies

    e not the only inju

    ies th

    t c

    n occu

    to the neck o

    b

    ck. If the victim’s body suffe

    s

    blo

    o

    j

    ing movement du

    ing the

    ccident, it c

    n

    esult in stined muscles o common inju

    y like

    hipl

    sh. These inju

    ies often c

    use const

    nt p

    in th

    t

    equi

    es lifelong physic

    l the

    py to m

    n

    ge.

  • i

    -level="1">ong>Inte

    n

    l o

    g

    n d

    m

    ge: ong> Inju

    ies to the outside of the body

    e the most obvious

    ften

    ccident, but inte

    n

    l o

    g

    n d

    m

    ge is not uncommon

    nd c

    n be p

    ticul

    ly de

    dly. If the body suffe

    s

    blo

    , it c

    n d

    m

    ge o

    g

    ns including the het, kidneys,

    nd lungs. Symptoms of these inju

    ies e often difficult fo victim to notice, but del

    ys in t

    e

    tment c

    n h

    ve se

    ious consequences.<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">ong>F

    ci

    l inju

    ies

    nd dent

    l inju

    ies: ong>

    ccident imp

    ct on the f

    ce c

    n c

    use c

    cked o

    chipped teeth,

    b

    oken j, o

    othe

    b

    oken f

    ci

    l bones. Depending on the seve

    ity of the inju

    y, these inju

    ies might

    equi

    e

    econst

    uctive su

    ge

    y.<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">ong>B

    oken bones:<

    st

    ong>

    b

    oken bone

    ill

    equi

    e

    victim to

    d

    pt to life in

    c

    st oith c

    utches

    hile the b

    e

    k mends. If the b

    e

    k is se

    ious, they might unde

    go su

    ge

    y oeh

    bilit

    tion, extending the

    mount of time the b

    e

    k dis

    upts the victim’s

    bility to

    etu

    n to thei

    no

    m

    l y of life.<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">ong>Cuts, b

    uises, scpes,

    nd sp

    ins: ong> It’s e

    sy to dismiss these mino

    inju

    ies, but be

    e: they c

    n still limit

    victim’s

    bility to pe

    fo

    m some

    ctivities

    nd

    etu

    n to thei

    egul

    life

    ften

    ccident. Cuts f

    om

    c

    ccident might

    lso le

    ve pe

    m

    nent scs.<

    li>

cou

t c

n find th

t st

eet cing qu

lifies

s

gg

essive oeckless d

iving. The N

tion

l High

y T

ffic S

fety

dminist

tion (NHTS

) defines<

h

ef="https:

/

.nhts

.gov/sites/nhts

.dot.gov

files/809707.pdf” t

get=”_bl

nk"

el=”nofollo

noopene

“>

gg

essive d

iving<>

s

ny time “

n individu

l commits

combin

tion of moving tffic offenses so

s to end

nge

othe

pe

sons o

p

ope

ty.” You

ill need evidence of the d

ive

’s

eckless

ctions to suppo

t you

c

se.

n impo

t

nt piece of evidence is

police

epo

t. The

epo

t

ill include pictu

es f

om the scene of the

ccident,

itness testimony,

nd

ny cit

tions issued fo

viol

tions of tffic

egul

tions. M

ke su

e th

t

ny evidence th

t p

oves the d

ive

s st

eet

cing is

et

ined

nd documented. If the d

ive

s found to viol

te the st

tute

g

inst st

eet

cing, they

e

lso p

esumed to h

ve

cted negligently.

ssessing You

D

m

ges

fte

building

negligence c

se

g

inst the

cing d

ive

, you must

ssess you

d

m

ges. Then, you c

n hold eckless d

ive

esponsible fo

you

inju

ies.

o

k

ith you

tto

ney to p

ep

e

comp

ehensive d

m

ges dem

nd th

t includes

ll of the ys you

inju

ies

ffected you

life. This m

y include:

  • i

    -level="1">ong><

    h

    ef=”https://c

    inju

    yvictims.com

    p

    ying-medic

    l-c

    e-c

    ccident

    “>Medic

    l expenses<>:<

    st

    ong> Speed cing

    ccidents

    e highly likely to c

    use inju

    ies.

    s the n

    me “speed

    cing” implies,

    t le

    st one vehicle is likely to be moving ve

    y f

    st,

    nd speed inc

    e

    ses the ch

    nce of inju

    y. If you h

    ve suffe

    ed inju

    ies, the negligent d

    ive

    c

    n be held

    esponsible fo

    medic

    l costs

    ssoci

    ted

    ith those inju

    ies. Common medic

    l expenses e eme

    gency t

    nspo

    t

    tion, su

    gic

    l p

    ocedu

    es, docto

    s’ visits,

    nd p

    esc

    iption medicine. You should

    lso include

    n estim

    te of ongoing o

    futu

    e medic

    l expenses like in-home c

    e o

    physic

    l the

    py.

  • i

    -level="1">ong>Lost

    ges: ong> Inju

    ies often

    esult in missed time

    t

    o

    k o

    shift in

    esponsibilities, both of

    hich c

    n be

    ccomp

    nied by lost ges. The defend

    nt c

    n be held

    esponsible fo

    ny lost

    ges. If you h

    ve not yet

    etu

    ned to

    o

    k o

    pe

    m

    nently c

    nnot

    etu

    n to

    o

    k, you

    dem

    nd should include

    n estim

    te of futu

    e lost

    ges. If you

    inju

    ies

    ffect youbility to

    dv

    nce in you

    c

    ee

    , include

    n estim

    te of lost ening potenti

    l

    s

    ell.

  • i

    -level="1">ong><

    h

    ef=”https://c

    inju

    yvictims.com

    beyond-medic

    l-expenses-p

    ope

    ty-d

    m

    ge-non-economic-d

    m

    ges

    “>P

    ope

    ty d

    m

    ge >:<

    st

    ong> If you

    vehicle o

    othe

    p

    ope

    ty—such

    s

    n elect

    onic device—s d

    m

    ged o

    dest

    oyed in the

    ccident, the defend

    nt c

    n be held

    esponsible foep

    i

    oepl

    cement.

  • i

    -level="1">ong>Emotion

    l dist

    ess: ong>

    n

    ccident

    ith

    speeding vehicle c

    n be

    shocking

    nd t

    um

    tic event,

    nd it c

    n be difficult to

    djust

    nd cope

    ith you

    inju

    ies. M

    ny victims suffe

    f

    om emotion

    l dist

    ess, including

    nxiety, dep

    ession, o

    <

    h

    ef=”https://c

    inju

    yvictims.com

    c

    ccident-ptsd

    “>post-t

    um

    tic st

    ess diso

    de

    > (PTSD). C

    ccident victims

    e especi

    lly likely to suffe

    f

    om <

    h

    ef="https:

    /

    .ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

    pmc/

    ticles/PMC5779792/” t

    get=”_bl

    nk"

    el=”nofollo

    noopene

    “>PTSD >, though the effects on e

    ch individu

    l’s life

    ill be diffe

    ent. Fo

    ex

    mple, some people might find they c

    nnot

    ide in

    moto

    vehicle

    ithout suffe

    ing dist

    ess,

    hich c

    n be ext

    emely limiting fo

    etu

    n to no

    m

    l life.<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">ong>Loss of enjoyment: ong>

    hile lost

    ges fo

    missed

    o

    k e impo

    t

    nt, ou

    lives

    e built on mo

    e th

    n ou

    time

    t

    o

    k. E

    ch pe

    son h

    s

    ctivities th

    t b

    ing enjoyment to thei

    lives,

    nd

    victim’s

    bility to p

    ticip

    te in these

    ctivities is often seve

    ely limited by thei

    inju

    ies.

    hile this loss c

    n be difficult to qu

    ntify, it is still impo

    t

    nt to seek compens

    tion fo

    the victim. Discuss

    n

    pp

    op

    i

    te monety

    mount

    ith you

    l

    ye

    .<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">ong><

    h

    ef=”https://c

    inju

    yvictims.com

    compens

    to

    y-

    nd-punitive-d

    m

    ges

    “>Punitive d

    m

    ges >:<

    st

    ong> Most d

    m

    ges e intended to compens

    te the defend

    nt fo

    the inju

    ies they h

    ve suffe

    ed due to the pl

    intiff’s negligent beh

    vio

    . The exception is punitive o

    exemply d

    m

    ges. These d

    m

    ges e used to punish the defend

    nt fo

    esc

    l

    ted b

    d beh

    vio

    . To

    ecove

    <

    h

    ef=”https://st

    tutes.c

    pitol.tex

    s.gov

    Docs/CP/htm/CP.41.htm” t

    get=”_bl

    nk"

    el=”nofollo

    noopene

    “> exempl

    y d

    m

    ges > in Tex

    s, the

    e must be cle

    nd convincing evidence th

    t the defend

    nt

    cted

    ith f

    ud, m

    lice, o

    g

    oss negligence.

    punitive d

    m

    ges

    d in Tex

    s c

    nnot exceed the g

    e

    te

    of $200,000, o

    t

    ice the compens

    to

    y d

    m

    ges ded, not to exceed $750,000.<

    li>

P

eping

complete

ssessment of you

d

m

ges c

n be time-consuming, but it’s

c

itic

l step in ensu

ing you secu

e the

ecove

y you dese

ve. If you

c

se goes to t

i

l, this

mount

ill be conside

ed by the ju

y

hen

ding

ecove

y. M

ny c

ses

esolve by

settlement bet

een the pties befo

e

t

i

l,

nd

d

m

ges

ssessment

ill

lso be impo

t

nt in th

t scenio.

settlement offe

p

esents

n enticing

esolution to

st

essful c

se, but you should only

ccept

n offe

th

t coesponds to the st

ength of you

c

se.

o

k

ith youtto

ney to

eigh

ny settlement offe

g

inst you

likelihood of p

ev

iling

t t

i

l

nd the full extent of you

d

m

ges.

hile it is impo

t

nt to p

epe

complete dem

nd, time is

lso of the essence. Inju

y cl

ims

e subject to

time limit c

lled the st

tute of limit

tions. In Tex

s,

victim must file

c

ccident cl

im

g

inst the defend

nt

ithin t

o ye

s of the

ccident. T

o ye

s c

n feel like

long time, but it

ill move quickly

s you spend time m

n

ging you

inju

ies, building you

c

se,

nd p

ep

ing

d

m

ges dem

nd. If you do not

ct on time, you

isk losing you

bility to

ecove

compens

tion enti

ely.

Cont

ct

C

ccident

tto

ney Tod

y

skilled <

h

ef="https:

/c

inju

yvictims.com

se

vices

c

ccident-

tto

ney-houston

“>c

ccident lye

> c

n be

key ptnes you pu

sue

ecove

y

g

inst the negligent, speeding d

ive

fo

you

inju

ies.

n

tto

ney c

n help you m

n

ge e

ch

spect of the c

se, including:

  • i

    -level="1">Dete

    mining li

    bility

    nd compiling suppo

    ting evidence<

    li>

  • i

    -level="1">P

    ep

    ing

    c

    se st

    tegy

  • i

    -level="1">Communic

    ting

    ith the defend

    nt

    nd thei

    insu

    nce p

    ovide
  • i

    -level="1">Hi

    ing expe

    ts to help p

    ep

    e

    d

    m

    ges dem

    nd

  • i

    -level="1">

    n

    lyzing settlement offe

    s

  • i

    -level="1">Filing cou

    t documents

You

on’t p

y

dime fo

the se

vices of eput

ble c

ccident lye

, bec

use they

o

k on commission—

h

t lye

s c

ll contingency—so you c

n get

ll the leg

l help you need

ithout

o

ying

bout

dding to the expenses you

inju

ies h

ve c

used. Don’t del

y; you h

ve nothing to lose,

nd eve

ything to gain!

How Can We HELP Get a FREE Virtual Consultation
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Testimonials

Client testimonials "Mr. Guss & his team significantly exceeded my expectations and the net settlement I received was more than triple... - Norman B. View All Testimonials
Schedule a free virtual visit 866-552-1808 Or Send us a message today >

Read More

Handling Catastrophic Injury Claims for 20+ Years
Car Accident Attorneys Houston 19 Jan

  T ust us hen e sy the e isn’t nything “e sy” bout filing c insunce clim ith...

Drunk Driving Accident Lawyer 15 Jan

. to schedule f ee consulttion. Don’t del y! Youights e too impot nt. Signs of n Intoxic ted...

How to Claim for Whiplash After a Car Accident 10 Jan

He e’s scen io e see ll too often in ou line of o k: pe son lks y...

Get Legal Help Now Contact Our Attorneys To LEarn How We Can Help You Achieve The Justice You Deserve * Required Field
  • This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.