Recently in Oregon, there was a monster truck event that could have had disastrous results. If you’re not familiar with these events, spectators sit on the side lines of a circular track and watch monster trucks race through a roadway.
These titan cars crush everything in their way, and make obliterating other cars and trucks look so easy. Most monster truck events go off without a hitch, but this wasn’t the case at the Monster Air 2012 event last year. Those sitting back, relaxing, and watching the show were in for a rude awakening. Everything was going smoothly and spectators were having a good time until a giant truck veered off course and headed straight towards the crowd. Luckily, ditches are built around the course to keep the monster truck drivers below ground level- but, if that barrier would have been even a few feet lower, the result could have been fatal.
When people attend these events, they usually go with their families and young children. If someone got caught under the gigantic wheel of a truck, they could suffer a great deal of injuries – if they survived. Luckily, there were no major injuries and those individuals in the path of the out-of-control monster trucks were quick on their feet and were able to get out of the way.
To put things in perspective, an average monster truck is about 11 feet tall and 12 feet wide. They can weigh over 9,000 pounds, with some weighing close to 13,000 pounds. If someone were injured in my area (Albany), I’m pretty sure an Albany accident lawyer would jump at the opportunity to defend the case. They would go into the case knowing they have a good chance of winning. The organizers of the event have said that though there is the potential of injury and future accidents, they will continue to have these shows- they’ll just try to be more careful next time.
The power of monster trucks isn’t something to be taken lightly. They can go as fast as 85 mph making the truck difficult to control. Many loyal fans said they would continue to support the show and attend regularly; they’ll just take better precautions and keep a safe distance from the track. Fans and organizers alike can only hope something like this doesn’t happen again.
It’s easy to understand why most people don’t think of the “worst case scenario” when attending events like this, but prevention truly is better than a cure. It may be expensive to put in additional safety precautions but, at the same time, these precautions could be a great way for organizers to gain support and increase attendance. When the organizers of the event were interviewed, they made a point to say it’s hard to foresee the future, and that they prepare to the best of their abilities. When asked if they’d continue to hold similar events, they said they would.
If you are someone who enjoys attending these events, remember to keep a distance and do your best to steer clear of hazardous areas that are too close to the edge. If you do get injured, you or your family may win the case, but at what price? An arm? A leg? Your life? It’s better to be safe than sorry.
