In 2001 Dale Earnhardt died in a crash at Daytona International Speedway, and the racing world mourned the loss of one of its greatest drivers. Almost immediately after, the Hans device was incorporated into NASCAR and other forms of racing to prevent drivers from experiencing the same injuries that took the legendary racer’s life. Racing has always been about entertaining fans with the danger of speed combined with metal and rubber, but are they really doing enough?
During the Daytona 500 this year, Austin Dillion’s number 3 car, the same number as Dale Earnhardt’s, flew into the air and bounced off the safety fence during a race crash. Dillion’s car landed in pieces. The driver was okay, but five people were injured by the debris shorn from the car. One victim and her son are already preparing a lawsuit against the Daytona racetrack and NASCAR.
“Stuff just flew like a tidal wave, a big part of the fence came down, and stuff was flying everywhere. I didn’t know if we were going to die,” says the victim. “It was my first race and probably will be my last.”
Is It Safe To Attend A NASCAR Race?
In 2013, Kyle Larson’s car flew into the safety fence at Daytona, and 28 people suffered injuries as the engine and car parts ripped into the stands. Many people suffered serious injuries that day, and many took Daytona and NASCAR to court over the incident. The track entered into a $400 million renovation after that crash to improve safety, and even though some progress has been made, dangers still lurk at Daytona International Speedway.
If you go to a NASCAR race, you should be conscious of the potential dangers, but the track owners are ultimately responsible for your safety. Personal injury attorneys, like the ones at Colson Hicks Eidson, know the rights of victims who are injured at public events. For more information, visit our personal injury page, and keep following our blog for the latest news and information.
Colson Hicks Eidson—Injury Attorneys
