According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), motor vehicle crashes are the leading cause of death for teens aged 16-19. Approximately six teens die in an accident every day and teens are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than other drivers. Unfortunately, these fatal car accidents can also lead to serious injuries or death for their passengers and others on the road. When a teen driver causes a serious car accident, the consequences can be devastating for everyone involved.
Factors Involved in Teen Car Crashes
There a number of factors that contribute to this high rate of teen car accidents, including:
- Driver inexperience—those with little driving experience are not as equipped to recognize and react to dangerous situations on the road. Good driving techniques develop with experience.
- Distracted driving—they are more likely to engage in distracted driving by doing things such as interacting with their phones, talking to friends in the car, taking their eyes off the road, and playing with the radio. Driving requires cognitive, visual, and manual concentration and taking your eyes off the road for even a minute can have serious consequences.
- Impaired driving—they are more likely to engage in dangerous behaviors such as driving while impaired by drugs or alcohol. Impairment, combined with a lack of experience, can be deadly.
- Reckless driving—often think they are invincible. They are more likely to engage in reckless driving behavior such as speeding, tailgating, street racing, and running traffic signals than other drivers.
- Driving with teen passengers—the biggest distraction faced while driving is the presence of other teens in the car. Studies show that the presence of teen passengers increases the risk of being involved in an accident and the likelihood that the teen driver is at fault for the accident.
Teen drivers are among the riskiest on the road and if you have been injured in an accident caused by a teen driver, you should consider consulting with an attorney.
Contact an Experienced Attorney
If you or someone you love has been injured in an accident caused by a teen driver, you should have your case evaluated by an experienced injury attorney. At Bonina & Bonina, P.C., we have over 50 years of experience helping injured New Yorkers. Contact us online or call us at 1-888-MEDLAW1 to schedule your free consultation. Home and hospital visits are available. Se habla español.