Teenage Driver Accidents: Statistics
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Young California drivers (aged 15 20) were responsible for the death of nearly 600 in 2008, according to the Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS). Over 210 of these fatalities occurred in the driver and more than 160 in passengers of a teen driver. The sad fact, when it comes to teenage driver accidents, statistics show that the crash rate for drivers 16 19 years old is almost 3x more than all other ages.
While the day a teenager receives his or her license is usually one of the most highly anticipated, the journey to safe driving has only begun. Unfortunately, many teens do not think of safety first, especially when getting behind the wheel with friends.
At Phillips Law Group, we understand the frustration that can follow an auto accident, especially when due to a negligent driver. If you have been involved in a collision with a teen driver, we may be able to help.
Learn more about your legal options fill out the Free Case Review form to your right to hear from us.
Risk Factors Involved with Teen Drivers
Besides having beginner status, teenagers behind the wheel tend to have a laissez-faire attitude toward safe driving habits. This may easily be attributed to the freedom of the open road one may feel when finally allowed to control a vehicle independently. Unfortunately, some common threads exist when it comes to collisions with teenage drivers.
Common causes of teen-driver caused accidents:
- Speeding
- Careless driving
- Reckless driving
- Tailgating / following too closely
- Distractions while driving
- Fatigued driving
- Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
- Improper turning maneuvers
- Improper passing or lane changes
- Failure to yield
- Failure to follow traffic signals
- Failure to use proper signals
- Driving on the wrong side of the road (racing, attempting to pass, etc.)
The disregard for safety that can lead to many of these factors also has an influence on the reason why many teens are severely and fatally injured: failure to wear a safety belt.
Improving Teenage Driver Accidents & Statistics
While drivers 19 and under may have only made up just under 5% of all licensed drivers in 2009, they were accountable for more than 12% of all accidents, according to the U.S. Census. In order to reduce the number of severe accidents involving teenage drivers each year, it is important for teens to realize how important safety is while behind the wheel. This is especially true for males 16 – 19, as they are 2x more likely to die in an auto accident than female teens.
Some tips for teens to stay safe while driving include:
- Do not use your cellphone or other devices while driving; pull over if you need to use any electronic device
- Do not speed
- Do not drink and drive
- Do not drive with many passengers, or set rules in your vehicle to avoid distractions
- Let your family know where you are going, when, and when you expect to return
- Always wear your seat belt and make sure your passengers buckle up
There is simply no reason or excuse for taking any of these risks. As exhilarating as it may be to finally be able to travel independently, the fact of the matter is that inexperience on the road is a liability.
Driving is a privilege, not a right. Aside from the dangers, you can pose to yourself and others by ignoring road safety, driving recklessly can lead to the suspension of your driving privileges.
Contact Our Law Firm
The reality of teenage driver accidents and statistics is grim and cautionary. If you have been involved in an accident with a young driver, you may have grounds to pursue compensation for the damages to your vehicle and your person.
The auto accident attorneys at Phillips Law Group are dedicated to defending the rights of injury victims. We are proud to serve the citizens of Southern California through our office in San Diego, and accept clients from the following areas:
- Encinitas
- Escondido
- Santee
- Alpine
- Imperial Beach
- Mira Mesa
- Vista
- and cities and towns throughout the western U.S.
Do not delay discuss the details of your case with us today. Call 1-800-706-3000 to speak with a member of our intake staff, who will connect you with one of our knowledgeable Phoenix personal injury attorneys after a brief interview.
Want us to call you? Enter your details in the Free Case Review form at the top of this page to receive a free, confidential consultation.
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Kathy Hudson and Donato Giovanatto. Continues to go above and beyond the call of duty. Reaching out to the insurance company about the damage to the vehicle. Forcing them to take responsibility.
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Working at Phillips Law Group has been great the 1st few years in I noticed how well organized and run this Firm was from Intake to Settlement the Client has the expertise of a staff member uniquely qualified for the particular stage of each Clients claim and all other Law firms try to emulate what we do here but none quite get it right because they lack one major component “Compassion”. We are a FAMILY not just a group of people/employees. We care deeply about each other and our clients’ we are considerate, compassionate and make sure that all our Clients’ needs are met from beginning to end. That’s because we treat our clients just like we treat each other. Nothing like walking through the office and saying Hello to fellow employees who always seem to be smiling. 16yrs in and it only seems to be getting better.
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Sophia H. at Phillips Law Group has been an absolute joy to work with -quick, responsive, and professional in every interaction. Her breadth of knowledge, from administration to IT to finance, is nothing short of impressive.
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My paralegal , Caroline , was on top of her game - very responsive and always answered any questions I had and in a timely manner . My attorney Rob ,was the best attorney I ever had . He explained everything in great detail and had a great sense or humor . He really knows how to bring light To tough , unfortunate situations - I would absolutely recommend them at anyone -
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If you are in need of legal support for a motor vehicle collision of any kind, I highly recommend going to Phillips Law Group Injury Lawyers. Sean Davis has exemplary knowledge and experience in this field, compassion for his clients, and excellent judgment and communication skills.
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PLG is the best! Highly recommend. Love that they do so much to help the community.
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Great company and awesome service. Thanks Caroline fabos. Kudos to all.
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My review is for Kathy Hudson a legal assistant at the law firm. She is great! She is very professional and a fair based person. She was never rude to me and always called me back. She listened to me and had my best interest as number 1. Mr Nasir who is a supervisor at law firm also was very professional and helpful. Not sure if spelling his name correctly but sorry if not. As far as mr Ross and the lady that runs the front desk reception I would say they are the most unprofessional and rude people I have met at a law firm in my life especially beings they were representing me. But Kathy made it overall a better experience. Thx Kathy.
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Jasmine , did a great job . Highly recommend!!!!!
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Phillips Law Group provides a collaborative environment in which both attorneys and staff work together to achieve the best outcome for clients. As an attorney here at PLG, I’m lucky to be surrounded by seasoned attorneys and knowledgeable staff that share my enthusiasm for helping accident victims. The team here at PLG treats clients with respect and empathy while fighting hard to get the results they deserve.