Research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) reveals that speeding was a factor in 32% of fatal teen driving accidents. Drunk driving was the second-highest cause of fatal accidents at 16%, and distracted driving was the third at 10%.
Other factors that contribute to these accidents include:
- Reckless or aggressive driving
- Driving at night
- Inexperience
- Failure to use seat belts
- Driving while fatigued or falling asleep at the wheel
- Driving with passengers in the vehicle
- Driving under the influence of drugs, including marijuana
Common Injuries Suffered in Teen Driving Accidents
Collisions often result in broken bones, head injuries, soft tissue damage, and lacerations. Even minor accidents can result in traumatic injuries to the head, neck, or back. These collisions are especially dangerous when drivers are traveling at a high speed at the time of impact, driving while distracted, or drunk driving.
Some of the most common teen driving accident injuries include:
- Broken arms, legs, clavicles, noses, or ribs
- Whiplash
- Muscle strains or sprains
- Burns
- Nerve damage
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Spinal cord injuries, which may cause paralysis
For a free legal consultation, call 800-537-8185
Teen Driving Accident Statistics
According to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), approximately 2,500 teenagers were killed in motor vehicle accidents in 2018. On average, roughly seven teenagers suffered fatalities every day from car accidents. Around 285,000 teenagers went to the emergency department to receive treatment for their injuries that year. Additionally, some recent analysis from Bumper of data from both the National Highways Traffic Safety Administration and the National Safety Council shows that teen driver-related fatalities hit a 12-year high in 2020 when compared to previous years.
Statistically, teen drivers get in the most car accidents. Studies from the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that drivers between 16 and 17 years old get in more motor vehicle accidents than any other group of drivers. Teen drivers tend to lack the experience and situational awareness to make safe decisions on the roadway. Generally, the older a driver gets, the safer they are behind the wheel.
Compensation You Can Seek After Colliding with a Teenage Driver
Your family may be eligible for compensation if your teen got into an accident because of another party’s negligence. You can take legal action against the offender and seek damages to help you cover the medical bills and other damages that resulted from the collision.
Eligible victims may be entitled to multiple damages based on the unique circumstances surrounding the accident, injuries, and resulting hardships, including:
- Loss of income and work-related benefits
- Decreased earning capacity
- Medical expenses
- Damaged property
- Overall pain and suffering from the accident itself, and the subsequent injuries
- Mental anguish, including loss of consortium and loss of quality of life
- Assistance with mental and physical disabilities
Click to contact our personal injury lawyers today
How a Personal Injury Lawyer Fights for Victims of Teen Driving Accidents
At the Morris Bart law firm, we have seen many lives turned upside down from teen driving accidents. You do not have to go through this difficult time alone. Our attorneys can be by your side to fight for your rights throughout your legal battle.
Once we learn more about your unique circumstances, we can help educate you about your legal options so you can move forward. Most importantly, we can be there to take the reins on your case while you sit back and focus on your family.
We tailor our legal services to help clients throughout their legal proceedings from start to finish, and we can do this for you as well. Some of these services include:
- Bringing your case to trial and providing civil litigation services
- Assisting with insurance claims
- Reviewing what your insurance policy covers
- Negotiating settlements on your behalf
- Handling the investigation and gathering evidence to help you prove liability
- Examining the laws in your state
- Providing general legal counsel
- Contacting expert witnesses to help examine your case
Call the Morris Bart Law Firm for Help Today
For more information about what we can do for teen driving accident victims, contact the Morris Bart law firm today at (504) 613-4771 to receive your free consultation with one of our attorneys.
Questions?Call 800-537-8185
to find a Morris Bart office near you.