Major Issues Facing Teen Drivers

According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, auto accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. teenagers, with an average of seven 16- to 19-year-olds dying every day in 2010 due to a crash. All told, this is the age group at the greatest risk of being involved, injured or killed in a wreck.

Making teens aware of their unique risks before they get behind the wheel can help reduce their chances of being involved in a car crash. Some of the major factors in these accidents include:

• Lack of experience and skill: Because teens just haven’t spent that much time behind the wheel, they are less able to operate a motor vehicle safely. Being able to judge stopping time, speed and distance between themselves and another vehicle increase the risk of accident. Good habits, like checking the mirrors before switching lanes, simply haven’t been learned yet, and make younger drivers a greater risk to themselves and others.
• Passengers: Having passengers in the car may increase distraction and contribute to accidents. Even in accidents in which alcohol, speed or driver error are key factors, the presence of passengers still magnifies the risk.
• Alcohol: Especially among older teens, the consumption of alcohol creates considerable dangers and plays a role in about a quarter of accidents involving teens.
• Electronic devices: Between the knobs and dials in any vehicle, the risk of accidents is high enough. But factor in the cell phones, GPS devices and other electronics teens may be using while driving and you’ll realize that the possibility for distraction is higher than ever.

If your teen was injured in a motor vehicle accident due to the negligence of another driver — even if that driver was one of your child’s friends — you may need to seek damages to cover medical bills, rehabilitation costs and pain and suffering. Meet with a highly qualified New York City car accident lawyer at [ln::firm_name] today.