Teen drivers in Louisiana and throughout the United States are known to be a danger to others sharing the road. Often, this is because of a simple lack of experience behind the wheel. It is inevitable that new drivers will make mistakes. Nevertheless, when there is a car crash, those who have been impacted should be aware of the possibility that a teen caused it and consider steps to recover compensation in a legal filing.
According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, accidents with teen drivers led to almost 3,500 deaths between 2013 and 2017. This information came from a study of driving incidents during what is known as the “100 Deadliest Days.” This is the time-period between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
In the study, drivers between 15 and 18 who had their learner’s permit, a restricted license or a full license were assessed. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration’s statistics showed that some of the fatal accidents involving these teens were due to drinking and driving and driving at excessive speed.
AAA researchers say that accident data indicates that teens have a greater chance of being in a crash. Teaching them the fundamentals of safe driving is encouraged. 52% of teen drivers confessed to emailing or reading text messages when behind the wheel. 40% stated they sent texts and emails.
Because law enforcement has a difficult time in determining if a driver was distracted after an accident, dash cam videos were used by AAA in 2015. It discovered that 58% of teen accidents involved distracted driving.
Car accidents are always a danger. When they happen, lives can be drastically changed with medical costs, the inability to work, the need for extensive treatment and care and other factors to deal with. Victims must be aware of what is necessary to recover compensation for all they have lost. If the accident was with a teen, it is also important to gather evidence as to the circumstances of the crash to move forward with a legal filing. Contacting a law firm that helps people who have been injured and families who have lost a loved one after car accidents is crucial to pursuing a case.
