Street Racing Accidents in Gwinnett County: Legal Rights for Personal Injury Victims

Street racing continues to pose a serious public safety threat in Gwinnett County, Georgia, with organized racing events and impromptu challenges endangering both participants and innocent bystanders. These illegal activities often involve modified vehicles racing on public roads, particularly along major corridors like Pleasant Hill Road, Jimmy Carter Boulevard, and Satellite Boulevard. The dangerous practice has led to numerous catastrophic accidents, resulting in severe injuries and fatalities. Beyond the immediate racing participants, these incidents frequently involve innocent motorists, pedestrians, and property owners who become unwitting victims. The resulting personal injury claims can be complex, involving multiple parties including drivers, vehicle owners, spectators who encouraged the activity, and in some cases, businesses that modified vehicles for racing purposes. Victims may face extensive medical bills, long-term rehabilitation costs, lost wages, and significant property damage, while dealing with insurance companies that may attempt to deny coverage due to the illegal nature of racing activities.

Legal Rights and Considerations: Under Georgia Code § 40-6-186, street racing is a serious criminal offense, classified as a misdemeanor of a high and aggravated nature. Violators face fines up to $5,000, potential jail time, and license suspension. In personal injury cases, Georgia's modified comparative negligence law (O.C.G.A. § 51-12-33) allows victims to recover damages as long as they are less than 50% at fault. The statute of limitations for personal injury claims in Georgia is two years from the date of the accident. Victims may be entitled to both economic damages (medical expenses, lost wages, property damage) and non-economic damages (pain and suffering, emotional distress). Insurance companies may attempt to deny coverage under policy exclusions for intentional or criminal acts, making it crucial to seek experienced legal representation. A good Gwinnett County car accident attorney will handle all aspects of the personal injury claim.

Related Resources: Local Courts:

• Gwinnett County Superior Court
• Gwinnett County State Court
• Gwinnett County Magistrate Court

Support Services:

• Gwinnett County Victim Witness Program
• Georgia Crime Victims Compensation Program
• Gwinnett County Police Department Victim Services

Legal References:

• Georgia Governor's Office of Highway Safety
• Georgia Department of Driver Services
• Georgia Code Title 40 (Motor Vehicles and Traffic)
• Gwinnett County Traffic Court Resources

Emergency Services:

• Gwinnett County Emergency Response
• Gwinnett Medical Center Trauma Services
• Gwinnett County Police Department Traffic Unit

If you've been injured in an accident, click the links below to get help from an attorney who specializes in your type of accident or injury:

If you've been injured in an accident involving a racing driver, click the links below to get help from an attorney who specializes in your type of accident or injury:

• Gwinnett County pedestrian accident attorney;
• Gwinnett County motorcycle accident lawyer;
• Gwinnett County truck accident lawyer;
• Gwinnett County bicycle accident attorney;
• Gwinnett County drunk driving accident lawyer;
• Gwinnett County rear-end accident lawyer;

Regardless of how severe an accident is, almost everyone involved has to deal with insurance companies and claims. For crashes involving more serious injuries, or when a fatal crash occurs, a Charlottesville personal injury attorney is needed to manage the insurance claim. Go here to learn more about how a Gwinnett County racing driver accident lawyer helps injured victims.