Most teenagers are eager to get behind the wheel. It is an exciting time for many parents when their teenager gets their license, but it can also be an anxious time. Parents understand the risks of the road and are naturally worried about their children. According to the CDC, an average of six teenagers suffer fatal injuries during a car accident daily. When a teenager is involved in a car accident, the outcome can be devastating for everyone involved.
Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C. is an experienced law firm dedicated to helping car accident victims in Pennsylvania get the compensation they deserve. With over 65 years of experience, our firm knows how emotional and complex car accident claims can be when teenagers are involved. Our lawyers can help your family navigate the personal injury claim process and pursue compensation for your teen’s losses.
6 Reasons Teenagers Get into Car Accidents
Teenagers between the ages of sixteen to nineteen are at a greater risk of motor vehicle accidents. The CDC states that teen drivers, per mile driven, are three times more likely to be in a fatal accident compared to drivers twenty and older. Below are six reasons why teenagers may get into accidents.
1. Inexperience
Teens who have been driving for less than two years do not always have the experience necessary to recognize and react to dangerous situations. The crash risk is highest during the first month of a teen earning their license. Teenagers are eager to get behind the wheel, and their eagerness can be a dangerous distraction. Driving technique develops over time through experience, meaning young drivers will inevitably make more mistakes at the beginning of their driving journey.
2. Not Wearing Their Seat Belt
Seat belts significantly reduce the risk of fatal and severe car accident injuries. Whether teens forget or purposefully do not put on their seat belts, they endanger themselves by not taking this precautionary measure. Teenagers report the lowest proper seat belt usage rate compared to other age groups.
3. Distracted Driving
Driving requires cognitive, manual, and mental concentration that the tiniest distraction can break. Teens may be distracted by many factors, including their phone, friends, eating, or any other activity that breaks their focus.
4. Reckless Driving
Teenagers are more likely to speed both on purpose and accidentally. A teen may not know the speed limit for a particular area or be distracted and not notice they have gone past the speed limit. Other reckless behaviors include making illegal turns or lane changes, or tailgating.
5. Texting and Driving
Many teens love to keep their eyes glued to their phones. They feel the need to contact their friends throughout the entire day regardless of what is in front of them. Unfortunately, this includes what is in front of their windshields. A teen may glance at a text for a second, but that second can lead to dire consequences.
6. Drunk Driving
Driving under the influence of alcohol is always dangerous. However, teen drivers are at greater risks because of their inexperience. Teen reckless behaviors combined with driving inexperience can have life-changing consequences for them and others around them.
Contact Our Experienced Car Accident Attorneys in Pennsylvania
By their very nature, accidents are unpredictable and can happen to anyone regardless of age or experience. Even the safest drivers are at risk of being in an accident due to someone else’s negligence.
If your teen is in an accident because of another party’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation. Our personal injury lawyers at Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C. understand the legal process and can help your family get fair compensation for any losses your teen may have sustained due to the accident. At Rubin, Glickman, Steinberg & Gifford, P.C., we have over 65 years of experience helping injured victims get the justice they deserve. Call (215) 822-7575 or fill out this form to schedule a consultation.
