Teen Drivers and Car Accidents
By Pyle Law, September 15 2022 8:30 pmAlthough teens might drive fewer miles than adults, car accidents involving teen drivers are disproportionately higher. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the fatal crash rate per mile for 16 to 19-year-olds is three times higher than for drivers older than 20 years. In addition, 56% of teenage deaths in passenger vehicles occurred when a teenage driver was behind the wheel.
One underlying factor behind Teen Drivers and Car Accidents is inexperience. Typically, teenagers find it hard to recognize or properly respond to dangerous situations. Unfortunately, victims of teenage car accidents suffer injuries, lost income, property damage, disabilities, and other losses.
If you’re a victim of a teen driver’s car accident, you deserve compensation for your losses. A Kansas car accident lawyer can investigate, establish fault, and represent your rights during your claim.
Teenage drivers have a lower sense of responsibility, making them more vulnerable to distractions. Any form of distracted driving takes away concentration from the road, endangering lives.
According to the National Youth Risk Behavior Survey, 39% of teenage respondents sent a text or email while driving in the past 30 days. Below are further examples of distracted driving:
Teens are often thrill-seeking, increasing the risk of speed-related accidents. Speed increases the distance and time needed to stop. Teens might not judge safe speeds properly, causing them to crash. Speed might also increase the severity of crashes. Higher speeds generate more severe impacts, which must be absorbed during a crash.
Substance abuse and drinking increase the risk of accidents for teenagers. Teenagers often experiment with drugs or alcohol, and they might not recognize how dangerous driving while impaired can be. Despite strict underage drinking laws, teens continue to use substances and get behind the wheel.
Substance use can impair driving abilities in many ways:
Driving while intoxicated is dangerous at any age.
Reckless driving involves many dangerous driving behaviors and traffic violations that put everyone else in danger. Teenagers sometimes engage in impulsive conduct, potentially explaining the high number of reckless teen drivers.
Below are examples of reckless driving habits:
Besides an increased risk of accidents and injuries, teenagers who drive recklessly risk fines, jail time, job opportunities, and losing their license.
Similar to other accidents, victims of negligent or reckless teenage drivers endure pain, mounting medical bills, disruptions to their lives, and lost income. It’s critical to work with an experienced attorney from Pyle Law. Contact us now or call us at 620-374-9208 for a free consultation.
