Street Racing Accidents

Rhode Island Street Racing Laws

A public nuisance for decades, illegal street racing has been idealized in movies like the Fast and Furious franchise. Street racing ranges from high speed drag races to seemingly friendly races with friends. Racing is designated as one car attempting to not let the car behind them pass, or a driver trying to race against time. It’s not to be glamorized, however. Not only is it against the law, street racing is a form of reckless driving that is extremely dangerous, and potentially fatal, to not only the driver racing, but also innocent bystanders or spectators who gather to watch and bet on the race. If you, or a loved one, have been injured in a Rhode Island street racing accident, contact Attorney David Tapalian to determine your eligibility to seek compensation for your losses with a personal injury claim.

Rhode Island Statute § 31-27-22, also cited as Justin Nunes’ Law, describes any form of street racing, even if there was no official agreement among cars to race, as illegal activity. The first offense of street racing is charged as a misdemeanor, while future instances will be considered felonies. In addition to legal troubles, the racers are at significant risk of a crash resulting in serious or life-threatening personal injury. They also put others on the road- motor vehicle drivers, passengers, and pedestrians- in great jeopardy.

Car crashes are stressful in any situation and street racing accidents are no exception. At Tapalian Law, our personal injury professionals are ready to help you protect your legal rights if you’ve been hurt in an auto accident, motorcycle collision, or other type of motor vehicle crash. With over two decades of expertise, Attorney David Tapalian has helped hundreds of accident victims in RI, MA, and FL, seek rightful compensation after they have been injured at the hands of a reckless driver.

While the insurance companies will try to offer you less compensation than you deserve, a car accident lawyer can help you stand up for your own rights. At Tapalian Law, we charge no fee unless we win your case, so there are zero risks to work with us. Call us at 401-552-5000, or schedule a free case review.

Common Causes for Street Racing Accidents

• Road rage. When a driver is angry at another motorist, they may try to stop them from passing or see if they can drive faster to beat them to the next destination. As adrenaline increases, such as in a street racing competition, people are more likely to make poor driving decisions. Drivers can also get angry over seeing another aggressive motorist cut them off or speed in front of them, prompting them to act aggressively themselves. Judgement can be further clouded if the driver is under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the race.
• Speeding. Just the fact that racing occurs at high speeds is enough to cause an accident. Most street racing crashes occur because the driver was travelling more than 10 miles per hour above the speed limit, and usually this number is upwards of 30 miles per hour greater than the legal speed. As one drives faster, the ability to stop and quickly adjust to avoid a collision becomes much more challenging.
• Disregarding Traffic Signals. In order to beat their competition, many racers run red lights and stop signs to get ahead. Someone who legally is driving through a green light can be hit by a street racer who chose to ignore who has the right of way.

Rhode Island Street Racing Accident Attorney David Tapalian can assist you if you were the victim of one of these menacing crashes.

Street Racing Car Crashes in RI

In September 2020, three people were injured after two men caused an accident due to street racing in Cranston, Rhode Island. A 19-year-old and 30-year-old began racing each other due to road rage as they tried to pass each other on the road. One of the cars hit another vehicle, flipped over, and injured a pedestrian who was walking on the sidewalk. In January 2018, two people died due to injuries caused by a street racing crash in Johnston, RI. A 19-year-old and 26-year-old were racing when one of the cars hit another vehicle, spun out of control, hit another car at a gas station, and stopped in the middle of the road. The passengers of the car that lost control later died at the hospital. A number of Rhode Island street racing accidents ended in death in 2009 as well. A 25-year-old man died after his car was racing next to another car at a speed greater than 100 miles per hour. A few days later, a 22-year-old man died during a street race when his car caught on fire as he was racing in the wrong lane and hit multiple cars travelling in the opposite direction.

Contact a RI Lawyer if You’ve Been Hurt in a Motor Vehicle Collision

Rhode Island Statute § 10-7-1 deems that a reckless driver who caused the death of another person, whether intentionally or not, should be held responsible for the resulting harm. A qualified car accident lawyer in RI can discuss your options for filing a wrongful death claim if a family member died from a street racing accident. Attorney David Tapalian has over 20 years of experience and is familiar with the intricacies of personal injury laws within RI, MA, and FL. After a shocking family loss, you need to spend time with family instead of worrying about finances and legal processes. Tapalian Law will take care of demystifying the complex process of filing a personal injury claim and will address your concerns day and night, including weekends. With offices in Providence, Warwick, Seekonk, and Fort Lauderdale, David is readily available to help clients throughout these areas. To speak with a personal injury attorney for free, call Tapalian Law at 401-552-5000 or schedule a free consultation.