Teen Death and Injury in Motor Vehicle Accidents – AutoAccident.com
I’m Ed Smith, a Fresno car accident lawyer. Unintentional motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of fatalities in this country for individuals aged 16 through 19. Since procuring a driver’s licence is something all teens look forward to, it is important to take a look at the statistics and formulate a way parents can help in making the world safer for young people.
The Statistics for Teenage Injury and Death on the Roadway
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teens die on average six per day due to motor vehicle accidents. In the year 2015, approximately 2,300 teenagers died, and another 221,213 were injured. More than $10 billion was spent in 2013 on teen accidents, accounting for slightly more than 10 percent on a group that comprised only 7 percent of the nation’s population.
Breakdown of Teen Accidents by Vehicle and Gender
In 2015, males accounted for 66 percent or 1,863 of total fatalities, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Females in the same age group accounted for 34 percent or 926 deaths in nationwide motor vehicle crashes. Out of all teen deaths, 55 percent happened when a teen was in the driver’s seat, however, that percentage dropped to 4 percent when the driver was between the ages of 24 to 29 years of age.
Seat Belt Use
The CDC states that the use of seat belts is effective in preventing motor vehicle crash injuries and deaths. Teenagers do not regularly use seat belts. Of all motor vehicle deaths in 2014, 53 percent of teenagers 16 through 19 were found not to be wearing a seat belt. Those 16 to 17 years-of-age wore them more often than teens 18 to 19. However, in 2015, 49 percent of teen drivers did not report using seat belts when they were passengers.
Time and Day Matter
Teen fatalities happen most often in August, and the deadliest period was between May and September, coinciding with vacation from school. The weekend is the time when 52 percent of the teen crashes happened. Four hundred and seventy two of teen deaths occurred between 9:00 at night and 12 midnight. The period from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 in the evening accounts for 441 or sixteen percent of all teen fatalities.
Drinking and Driving
The absolute number of teens using alcohol has decreased probably due to zero-tolerance laws and enforcement efforts. However, the risk among those drivers with a blood alcohol concentration level of 0.08 was higher, most likely due to inexperience, making even a small amount of alcohol hazardous.
Reason for Accidents Among Teens
Inexperience is the major reason. Teens have a harder time discerning what could amount to a hazardous condition and a greater chance of responding with driver error. Risky behavior, such as speeding and tailgating were high. In fact, 36 percent of male teen drivers were speeding, causing a crash. Drowsy driving is another cause of teen accidents.
Learning to Drive
Programs that teach teens how to drive are one of the greatest influencers on safe driving. Since parents become involved in this phase of a teenager’s growth into a responsible driver, it is a way for parents to use their influence. Parents need to review the rules for young drivers and become a vital part of the learning process. By doing this, such catastrophic injuries such as brain injury may be prevented.
Fresno Car Accident Lawyer
I’m Ed Smith, a Fresno car accident lawyer. When someone in your family is killed by the negligence of an inexperienced driver or if you yourself have been hurt, I can give you friendly and free advice about all your options going forward. Just reach out to me at (559) 377-7676 or long distance at (800) 404-5400. I am always available, and there is never a charge until you win.
I’ve been helping people with my skills as an injury lawyer in Northern California, including Fresno, when they’ve experienced traumatic injuries such as amputation or if a loved one has died in a wrongful death. Since 1982, I have ensured that they receive the highest compensation they could obtain in order to repair the financial devastation an accident causes.
Because of my diligence, I have been a member of the milliondollaradvocates, a group that only allows members with $1 million case recovery. Check out some of my verdicts and settlements too. Read more about legal issues here at AutoAccident.com, and go to Avvo, Yelp, Google to see what other clients have said about me and my practice.
Photo Attribution: https://pixabay.com/en/accident-crash-tree-auto-pkw-2161956/
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