Wild and Fiery Daytona 500: Lessons for North Carolina Car Accident Victims

February 29, 2012, by Michael A. DeMayo

The recently concluded Daytona 500 was one of the strangest and fire-plagued NASCAR races in recent memory; what can recently hurt North Carolina car accident victims learn from the carnage?

First, let’s recap a few interesting things that happened over the 36 hours of the NASCAR event:

•    Crazy fuel fire stopped the race for two hours;
•    Safety truck crash ignited a massive explosion near Turn 3 of the Speedway. (200 gallons of kerosene caught fire, fueling a blaze. Pictures of this went viral and caught the world’s attention);
•    Racing babe Danica Patrick and five others got hurt during a collision between Jimmy Johnson and Elliot Sadler;
•    Overtime races won by many virtual unknowns;
•    2012 Daytona 500 was the first Daytona to be postponed in 54 events.

Big Lesson: Dangers Can Surprise Us, Even in Highly Controlled Environments

A typical driver might think that Daytona 500 Speedway is a dangerous place to be. And that’s certainly correct, if you don’t know what you’re doing. But be aware that race car drivers are some of the most highly trained drivers in the world. They use the most state-of-the-art automobiles, equipped with the best safety features known to man. The track is also continuously inspected and groomed. No one (save perhaps a few sadistic fans) wants to see fireballs. They just want to see good racing and safe racing.

But these accidents, mishaps and “hiccups” occurred in spite of everyone’s best preparation and care. The takeaway here, for North Carolina car accident victims, is that driving is — in some sense — inherently dangerous and unpredictable. You might have the safest car on the road. You might drive defensively. You might reduce your driving mileage. You might avoid driving when you feel tired, overmedicated, or angry. You could do everything right, in other words, and STILL encounter danger. An auto component could break downs. A traffic light could malfunction. Preparation may be critical (as the Boy Scouts often remind us). But preparation is not a cureall or prevent-all. It’s a way to improve your odds and reduce risks. But life is inherently risky. And driving, perhaps particularly so.

The Solution, If You Have Been Hurt In Car Crash?

A North Carolina car accident law firm can help you understand exactly what went wrong with your crash by investigating the scene. Get concrete and strategic suggestions about what to do to get the compensation you deserve for your medical bills and other costs. Make sure that the driver or other person or company who caused the accident gets held to justice.

More Web Resources:

A wrap-up of the 2012 Daytona 500

The Inherent Risks of Driving