Driving is a rite of passage for millions of teenagers every year. At the same time, it can be a very nervous time for parents. They have legitimate reasons to worry. It turns out that auto accidents are the number one leading cause of death for people between the ages of 15 and 20. That is a scary statistic, but there are many other sobering ones about teenagers as well.
When surveyed, roughly one-third of all driving high-schoolers have admitted that they have sent a text or e-mail while they were driving. There is a stigma against doing this, so the true number may be even higher than that. Distracted driving is a terribly dangerous thing to do, yet teenagers are so distracted by technology that they do so anyway.
Teen Driver Accident Facts
Talking on a cell phone while driving has been shown to approximately double the risk of an auto accident. It slows down reaction time to that of a seventy year old driver. Teenagers love to talk on their cell phones, and doing so while behind the wheel of a vehicle can lead to dangerous accidents.
A higher percentage of teenagers (56%) admitted to talking on a cell phone while they were driving. Keep in mind that these are the least experienced drivers on the road, and they are adding to that danger by using cell phones while driving.
Teen Drinking & Driving
While cell phones and technology as a whole shouldn’t be used while driving, alcohol is a major problem as well. One might think that teenagers would not be a problem in terms of drunk driving, but that is definitely not the case. It is naive to think that teenagers do not also have access to alcohol.
Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) has statistics that say that nearly one in four auto accidents involving teenagers are alcohol related. This means that teenagers do in fact have access to alcohol if they really want it. They also seem willing to drink and drive which is terribly dangerous for anyone.
If you or someone you know is suffering from an injury as a result of a teen driver accident, it is crucial that you seek compensation to cover your medical expenses, possible lost wages, and pain and suffering. Car Accident Cases has the experience and resources necessary to get you in contact with a local teen driver accident attorney. He or she can analyze the facts of your case and pursue legal action on your behalf. Contact us today for a free case evaluation.
