The summer months offer many opportunities for people to travel and enjoy the outdoors. However, this increased amount of travel also brings the risk of car accidents. This is especially true for teen drivers, who will be spending more time on the road while they are on vacation from school. Safety advocates have deemed the months between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the “100 deadliest days of summer” for teens. During this time, the number of teens killed in car accidents is 26% higher than during the rest of the year. Those who are injured in car accidents involving teen drivers will need to work with a skilled attorney to determine their options for receiving financial compensation.
Safety Issues Involving Teen Drivers
Inexperience is one of the primary reasons why teenagers become involved in car accidents. While teens are usually required to take driver’s education courses and receive training from their parents on how to drive safely, they simply do not have the amount of time behind the wheel that provides older drivers with an understanding of how to avoid dangerous accidents. In addition, teens are prone to risk-taking, and they may not fully consider the consequences of their actions. As a result, the decisions made by teen drivers can lead to collisions that cause injuries to themselves, passengers in their vehicle, people in other vehicles, or pedestrians and bicyclists.
Distracted driving is one of the top causes of car accidents involving teen drivers, accounting for 60% of crashes. Teenagers frequently use cell phones and other electronic devices and attempting to use these devices while driving can be very dangerous. Drivers who take their eyes off the road to check their phone, take their hands off the wheel to make a call or send a text message, and pay attention to a device rather than what is happening on the road around them will be likely to miss important details that would allow them to prevent or avoid a collision. In addition to cell phone use, teen drivers are also likely to become distracted by passengers in their vehicle, as well as factors such as loud music or attempting to eat and drink while driving.
Alcohol and drug use is another common cause of car accidents for teens. While teenagers are usually taught about the dangers of drunk driving, they may not realize how much these substances affect their ability to drive safely. Intoxication can affect a driver’s judgment, delay their reaction times, and cause impairments to their vision and coordination. Teenagers who choose to get behind the wheel after consuming any amount of drugs or alcohol put themselves and others at risk of serious injury in a car accident.
Contact Our Plainfield Car Accident Attorney
If you or a member of your family have been injured in a car accident that was caused by a teen driver, you will want to determine your best options for receiving compensation that will address your medical expenses, your loss of income, and your pain and suffering. Flaherty Law, LLC can provide you with legal representation as you file insurance claims or pursue legal action. Contact our Will County car accident lawyer at 815-860-5702 to set up your complimentary consultation.
Sources:
https://wesavelives.org/100-deadliest-days-of-summer/