Two of the Worst Tragedies in NASCAR’s History

 Almost all Americans love the National Association for Stock Car Auto Racing Inc. (NASCAR). In fact, it is the number one spectator sport in the United States.

Many Americans root for their favorite teams and drivers – the adrenaline rush and the speed can easily captivate many “motorhead” Americans. However, amidst the thrill and chill of speeding cars on the track, accidents are always just around the corner. Unfortunately, the truth is that accidents have no pit stops – they can happen anytime.

Since its establishment, NASCAR has become an avenue for many successful racers. However, it has also become a death valley to some drivers who experienced life-changing accidents while on the track. The following are two of the most horrific accidents in NASCAR’s history:

 

The “Fireball” caught fire – Glen “Fireball” is a legend in the NASCAR circuits during the 1950s and 1960s. He was one time the most popular drivers (1957), and he also won the 1962 Daytona 500. Unfortunately, his fame and expert driving skills were not enough to save him from a tragic track accident.

On May 1964, while competing for World 600 at Charlotte Motor Speedway, Roberts slammed his race car in one of the tracks’ retaining walls after avoiding a crash involving two other drivers. Roberts’ car rolled over and caught fire. The flame immediately burnt about 80 percent of his body.

Roberts was airlifted into a hospital where he struggled for his life for six weeks. When everybody thought that he was recovering, he sustained other health complications like pneumonia. Ultimately, on July 2, Roberts got the checkered flag of his life.

The legacy of the “Dale Devil” – Dale Earnhardt is one of the senior drivers during the Daytona 500 in 2001, but for him, age is just a number. However, while on his way to the final lap of race, his black Chevrolet hit the wall, sending all of the car’s initial energy to his body. Even though the accident is not an eye-candy to people who are morbidly inclined to car crashes, the Earnhardt incident is considered as the worst in NASCAR’s history because of certain factors.

The death of Earnhardt paved the way to drastic improvements in the race’s safety standards. Before the death of Earnhardt, drivers were not mandatorily required to wear Head and Neck Support (HANS), but now, everyone must use it. The concrete walls outside the tracks were replaced with Steel and Foam Energy Reduction (SAFER) soft barriers to avoid another Earnhardt incident.

The tragic stories of Roberts and Earnhardt are proofs that even the most talented and adventurous driver are not accident-proof. This is why Los Angeles car accident attorneys always remind drivers to take all precautionary measures when driving.

4 Types of Drivers Who Always Cause Road Accidents

There are two types of drivers in the United States – the responsible drivers and the irresponsible ones. In particular, there are also different types of irresponsible drivers who often cause road accidents.

The following are the types of irresponsible drivers who typically cause traffic accidents in the country:

Texting drivers – Motorists who use their cell phones while driving are likely to cause road accidents. These drivers, also known as distracted drivers, cause thousands of traffic accidents every year in the U.S. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2009 alone, about 5,400 people were killed and some 448,000 were injured due to distracted drivers.

Drunk drivers – Drivers who operate their vehicles while under the influence of alcohol are susceptible to causing and getting involved in auto accidents. CDC reports that almost 30 people die every day due to alcohol-related car accidents. This fatality rate translates to one death every 48 minutes. Typically, drunk drivers have impaired senses, logical thinking, and time reaction skills; thus, making them vulnerable to road accidents.

Traffic law violators – Whenever drivers break traffic laws, they are not only breaking laws but they are also putting their life, and those of others, in great danger. Drivers who beat the red light or disrespect crosswalks are likely to injure other motorists or pedestrians. It is imperative for all drivers to abide by the laws to ensure their own and other people’s safety.

Speeding drivers – Drivers who speed are most likely to have limited time to react to traffic situations, thus making them vulnerable to causing traffic crashes. Speeding drivers can accidentally hit another person’s car, a pedestrian, or some road objects.

California citizens who get injured in a car accident caused by an irresponsible and negligent driver have the right to claim for personal injury damages. They are advised to consult first with a Los Angeles car accident attorney to know the legal steps they have to take.

U.S., California Take Number One Spots – In Car Accidents

The United States is famous for a lot of positive things — a melting pot of many different cultures, Hollywood movies, Golden Gate Bridge, Statue of Liberty, branded products. The almost endless list goes on.  However, “The Land of the Free” is not free from car accidents.

United States: Number one in car accidents

According to a study, U.S. ranks first on the list of most car accident-prone countries in the world.  The study ranks countries as such:

(Deaths per 100,000 people)

10. Canada – 9.6 percent

9. Germany – 9.8 percent

8. Australia – 10 percent

7. Austria – 10.4 percent

6. Ireland – 11.6 percent

5. Italy – 12.9 percent

4. France – 13.7 percent

3. New Zealand – 14 percent

2. Belgium – 15.4 percent

1. United States – 15.5 percent

According to statistics, about 6,420,000 motor vehicle-related accidents occurred in the U.S. in 2005 alone, with some 42,636 fatalities.  It is estimated that about 115 people die each day due to car accidents in the country, or one fatality every 13 minutes.

According to studies, automobile mishaps are considered the sixth leading preventable cause of death in the country.  Two of the reasons why U.S. is plagued with vehicle accidents are its highly-developed industrial economy and its large population.  The combination of the two mentioned factors may easily heighten the probability of car crashes.

California: Number one, too

When it comes to per state analysis of automobile accidents in the U.S., California holds the number spot when it comes to U.S. states with the most number of road accident-related deaths.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), out of 42,642 car accident fatalities in the country in 2006, California recorded the most number of deaths.

The following are the top five states with the most cases of road accident fatalities in 2006 as determined by NHTSA:

5. North Carolina – 1,559 deaths

4. Georgia – 1,693 deaths

3. Florida – 3,374 deaths

2. Texas – 3,475 deaths

1. California – 4,236 deaths

In relation to this, it is advisable for California car accident victims to consult with a Los Angeles car accident attorney to be able to promptly file for and recover damages.