Car Accidents are the Number One Killer of Teens

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens aged 16-19. Every day, approximately six teens die in an accident, and teens are three times more likely to be involved in a fatal car crash than other drivers. Unfortunately, these fatal car accidents can also lead to serious injuries or death for passengers and others on the road. When a teen driver causes a serious car accident, the consequences can be devastating for everyone involved.

Common Factors Involved in Teen Car Accidents

There are a number of factors that contribute to the high rate of car accidents involving teen drivers. Contributing factors include:

• Inexperienced drivers—teen drivers with little experience are not as equipped to recognize and react to dangerous situations they may encounter on the road. Good driving techniques develop with experience.
• Distracted driving—teen drivers are more likely to engage in distracted driving by 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—teen drivers 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—teen drivers 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 a teen can face 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 Car Accident Attorney

If you’ve been injured in an accident with a teen driver, you should have an experienced Florida car accident attorney evaluate your case. At Abrahamson & Uiterwyk, we’ve been representing car accident victims for over 30 years. Contact us online or call us at 800-538-4878 to set up your free consultation today.