Teen drivers can be dangerous for a number of reasons, including the fact that their decision-making abilities are not yet fully developed. As a result, teen drivers are more likely to engage in risky, reckless, and aggressive behaviors on the roadway.
Compared to more mature drivers, teen drivers do not have as much context for the seriousness of their actions. Even when teenagers receive sufficient education before getting their driver’s licenses, they may not fully understand how dangerous their actions can be.
Texting and Driving Can Be Fatal
Ultimately, many teen driving behaviors may seem insignificant or harmless at the time, but they can result in devastating consequences. For example, texting and driving may only occupy a few seconds of their time, but the teen driver may cover hundreds of feet in that short period of time.
Unfortunately, texting behind the wheel is extremely common among younger drivers, even though it is illegal in virtually every state in America. In fact, one out of every three teen drivers has admitted to texting and driving, according to research from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
At the end of the day, when a driver does not have their eyes focused on the road in front of them, they are putting others’ lives at risk. The risks may be even greater when teenagers are driving with other teenage passengers in the vehicle, leading to further distractions and negative influences.
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Distracted Driving Plays a Role in Many Teen Driving Accidents
A large portion of teen driving accidents is caused by distractions and absentmindedness. While it may come as no surprise that teenagers face many distractions, there are unique modern problems that many parents and grandparents never had to deal with, including cellphones.
Cellphones provide an entire world of knowledge at the touch of a button, giving teenagers access to countless games, social media platforms, videos, and music at any given moment. In recent years, video chatting has become increasingly popular among teens. For every teen who practices safe driving by avoiding these dangerous behaviors behind the wheel, there may be another teenager who is endangering the lives of their fellow drivers.
Other forms of distracted driving include:
- Eating
- Smoking while driving
- Zoning out or daydreaming
- Dealing with passengers
Teen Drivers Are More Likely to Get in Car Accidents
Research from the American Automobile Association (AAA) Foundation for Traffic Safety shows that drivers ages 16 through 17 get in more car accidents than any other age group. That includes accidents that cause serious injuries and death.
Overall, the safest drivers are people between the ages of 60 and 69. However, as drivers grow older and enter their elderly years, they once again become more likely to be injured in car accidents.
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Compensation You Can Seek After a Teen Driving Accident
Teenagers injured in driving accidents may be able to take legal action against the parties who caused their injuries. In doing so, the teen driver and parent could seek compensation to help recover monetary, physical, and psychological losses. While these forms of compensation are subject to vary between states, such compensation is designed to help the teen victim recover from physical injuries, heal from mental wounds, repair damaged property, rebuild damaged relationships, and improve their quality of life.
Examples of recoverable losses include:
- Medical expenses
- Lost benefits and income
- Diminished earning capacity
- Long-term accommodations for physical and mental disabilities
- Property damage
- Mental anguish
- General pain and suffering
Our Teen Driving Accident Lawyers Are Ready to Fight for Your Rights
At the Morris Bart law firm, our attorneys can handle numerous aspects of your legal case while we fight for your rights in our legal system. If someone else caused your teen driving accident, you might be eligible for compensation. To get started with your free consultation and case review today, contact a representative at the Morris Bart law firm today at (504) 613-4771.
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