Why Teen Drivers Are More Likely to Be Involved in Car Accidents

 Posted on February 22, 2018 in Auto Accidents

Being involved in a car accident at any time of the year can be a very scary experience. During the winter, slippery roads and conditions that reduce visibility make car accidents more likely to occur. Even for the most experienced drivers, driving in inclement weather can be hazardous. If the driver is a teenager, then he or she must use extra precaution while on the roads, as a lack of experience behind the wheel can lead to a dangerous or even fatal collision.

Teens and Car Accidents

At any time of the year, teenagers are much more likely to be involved in car accidents than adults and more experienced drivers. Research shows that:

• For every mile that teenagers between the ages of 16 and 17 years old are on the road, they are 3.9 times more likely to be involved in a car accident than drivers over the age of 18.
• Teenagers are 2.6 times more likely to be involved in a car accident resulting in death than more experienced drivers. 
• Teenagers are 4.5 times more likely to be involved in a car accident and 3.2 times more likely to be involved in a car accident that results in death than drivers between the ages of 30 and 59.

Why are Teens More Likely to Be Involved in a Car Accident?

Teenagers tend to be more distracted on the roads than older drivers, with passengers in the car and cell phone use being the top causes of accidents. Since teenagers’ judgment and decision-making skills have not yet fully developed, they often refrain from wearing seat belts, and they tend to drive over the speed limit. These decisions, combined with their lack of experience, result in teens being much more likely to be seriously injured or killed in a car accident than more experienced drivers.

Call an Aurora, IL Personal Injury Attorney

If you or a loved one has been injured in a car accident involving a teen driver, the skilled attorneys at Kinnally Flaherty Krentz Loran Hodge & Masur P.C. are here to help. With over 40 years of experience representing clients in personal injury and car accident cases, we can work to ensure that you receive the compensation you deserve for the damages that you have suffered. To schedule your free initial consultation, please contact our Kane County car accident lawyers at 630-907-0909 today.

Sources

https://www.today.com/health/teens-far-more-likely-be-involved-fatal-crashes-t112226