Motorcycle Accident Claims in Delray Beach: What If I Was Accused of Street Racing?

You’re recovering from a motorcycle accident in Delray Beach when suddenly a police officer informs you that you’ve been charged with street racing. This is the last thing you need when facing debilitating injuries, medical bills, and an uncertain future. How will it affect your future? How will these allegations impact your ability to recover compensation? These are relatively common questions after motorcycle crashes, and you can ask them during a consultation with a motorcycle accident attorney.

Could Street Racing Allegations Affect My Ability to Recover Compensation?

Yes, street racing allegations could potentially affect your ability to recover compensation after a motorcycle accident in Delray Beach. Previously, Florida had a “pure” comparative negligence system, meaning that it was possible to recover compensation even if you were 99% responsible for your own injuries. Since then, the Sunshine State has adopted a system of “modified” comparative negligence. Under this system, it is impossible to recover compensation if you were the main cause of your own injuries.

As a result, insurers may attempt to argue that your decision to engage in street racing represents the primary cause of your injuries. This could pose a legitimate challenge in your pursuit of compensation, and it highlights the potential benefits of working with experienced motorcycle accident lawyers.

How to Push Back Against Street Racing Allegations

Unless there is clear evidence that you engaged in street racing, it may be difficult to deny your compensation based on these allegations. Many so-called “street races” are not organized ahead of time. Instead, they simply involve two or more motorists operating in close proximity, often at relatively high speeds. Although a casual observer might assume that two motorcyclists are racing, they might be independently enjoying their rides without any real interaction with each other.

Note that if you face allegations of negligence in a motorcycle accident lawsuit, the “accuser” must prove your wrongdoing with a “preponderance of evidence.” In other words, they must establish a more than 50% likelihood that you were street racing at the time of the crash. This is a relatively high burden of proof, and your lawyer can cast doubt on these allegations in various ways.

Something Unrelated to Street Racing Might Have Caused Your Injuries 

Even if you were street racing at the time of your crash, this might not represent the primary cause of your injuries. For example, a drunk driver might have been swerving across the road as you tried to pass. If the vehicle sideswiped you and caused you to suffer injuries, you may argue that your crash would have occurred whether you were street racing or not.

Can a Delray Beach Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Help Me?

A Delray Beach motorcycle accident lawyer may be able to help, even if investigators are accusing you of street racing. Regardless of what people are telling you, it may still be possible to pursue compensation. Explore this possibility in more detail with an experienced personal injury attorney before making any hasty decisions. Contact Steinberg Law today.

Sources: 

foxnews.com/us/tiktoker-whose-speeding-bmw-killed-6-farmworkers-avoids-possible-55-year-prison-plea-deal

wptv.com/news/region-s-palm-beach-county/delray-beach/delray-beach-plan-to-invest-more-than-100-million-to-improve-pedestrian-bicyclist-safety