Teenage drivers are always at risk of getting involved in a car accident. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), in 2009 alone, at least 3,000 teenagers were killed and about 350,000 were injured as a result of traffic mishaps.
It is likewise estimated that per mile driven by a teenage driver, he or she is four times more likely to be involved in a car mishap than older drivers.
Safe and responsible driving should be the main concern of teenage drivers in the United States. As it is, the odds of getting injured or killed in a road accident are higher among teen drivers, which is why they should practice safe driving.
There are many reasons why teen drivers are vulnerable to vehicular accidents. Some of these reasons are:
Distracted driving – Certain teen drivers are fond of using their handheld electronic gadgets like cell phone and tablet PCs, which make them very susceptible to distracted driving-related mishaps. Drivers who divert their attention from driving to use their electronic devices are likely to cause or be involved in a mishap. Statistics show that at least 400,000 people are injured each year due to distracted driving.
Drunken driving – Even though teenagers are not allowed by law to buy or consume alcohol, some of them still find ways to defy this rule. Unfortunately, some of these law breakers end up dead or critically injured in car accidents after they combine alcohol with driving. In California alone, more than 3,000 people were killed due to drunken driving in 2008.
Inexperience in driving – Many teen drivers do not possess advanced driving skills. Some of them are not very familiar with the roads and traffic rules that govern them. Because of these circumstances, their inexperience in driving sometimes cost them their lives. Many roadways in the country are unforgiving to inexperienced drivers, which is why teen motorists are always at risk of getting involved in a traffic mishap.
Aggressive driving – Teenage years are branded as rebellious years. Some teen drivers feel that nothing could go wrong when they break speeding laws, which makes them vulnerable to speeding-related road accidents. In 2008 alone, the California Department of Motor Vehicle estimated that 28.4 percent of all fatal crashes were caused by speeding and/or aggressive driving.
Parents of teens who got injured in a California traffic accident should contact a Los Angeles car accident attorney immediately to properly recover for personal injury damages that could help them cope with their financial needs.
