Parents in New York and other parts of the country likely worry each time their teenager leaves home for a drive. Unfortunately, 3,000 teenagers each year never make it home after becoming involved in traffic accidents. Motor vehicle accidents represent the leading cause of death for teenagers in the country. A 2010 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention report showed that seven teenagers on average died each day due to a car crash. A year later, 10% of the fatal crashes in the country involved a driver between the ages of 15 and 20. There are a few reasons that may explain the high number of fatal crashes involving teenage drivers.
Drinking and driving
Drinking plays a major role in car accidents for all age groups, so it comes as no surprise that many of the teenagers who become involved in a fatal accident consume alcohol before taking a seat behind the wheel. In 2011, one in four teenage drivers who were part of a fatal crash possessed a blood alcohol content of at least 0.08.
Speeding
Teenage drivers often like to travel at speeds higher than the speed limit. This tendency increases the potential for accidents. In 2010, just under 40% of the male drivers in fatal accidents were driving over the speed limit.
Inexperience
Some teenagers simply do not possess the driving experience to maintain safe driving practices. Young drivers often have trouble maintaining a safe distance between their vehicle and the car or truck in front of them. Teen drivers are also more likely to make a poor decision when a dangerous situation on the road presents itself.
The bright side
Although too many teenagers become involved in serious traffic accidents, the number of these accidents has been on the decline for years. In the period from 2002 to 2011, teen fatalities on the road decreased by almost 50%.
An accident on the road can permanently alter the life of an accident victim in a matter of seconds. Individuals who become involved in an accident may have a better chance of securing the compensation they need for recovery by speaking with a personal injury lawyer.