Even the most conscientious and skillful teenage drivers are at higher risk of being involved in accidents simply due to their lack of experience. When you take into consideration that many teenage drivers are not conscientious, this lack of experience becomes even more potentially dangerous. It is no surprise, then, that these young drivers are three times more likely to be involved in auto accidents than non-teen drivers, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.
At the law firm of Harrell & Nowak in New Orleans, auto accidents caused by teens are the foundation of many of our personal injury claims. It is bad enough that victims of such accidents must suffer the physical and emotional hardships imposed on them by such accidents; they should not have to shoulder the financial burdens, as well. Our skilled, aggressive personal injury attorneys work tirelessly on behalf of injury victims and their families to ensure that they are able to recover the full measure of damages to which they are entitled.
Teenage Driver Statistics
In an analysis conducted by Erie Insurance in conjunction with the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, Louisiana ranked 12th-highest among the 50 states in teen death rate in accidents in which teenage drivers were behind the wheel. The report found that Louisiana teens:
- Had a death rate of 23.3 per 100,000 teens
- Were 119 percent above the national death rate with adult drivers
- Were most likely to be involved in a fatal accident in November
- Were most likely to be involved in a fatal accident on a Saturday
- Were most likely to be involved in a fatal accident during the autumn months
Furthermore, the American Automobile Association found that approximately half of all teen drivers admit to texting while driving, which is remarkably dangerous even among adult drivers. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration states that traffic citation rates for teenage drivers is more than two-times higher than that of all drivers combined.
Why Are Teens More Likely to Be Involved in Auto Accidents?
In addition to being inexperienced, teen drivers are:
- More likely not to wear seat belts than more experienced drivers.
- More likely to be distracted by technologies such as smartphones and CD players, as well as by looking at themselves in the rearview mirror and engaging in conversations with passengers. They are also more likely to lose control of their vehicles when distracted.
- Often overconfident in their driving skills, as well as less aware of their own mortality.
- Less skilled at recognizing upcoming dangerous situations and far more likely to panic rather than respond with cool heads when finally confronted by these situations.
- Approximately 12 times more likely to be involved in accidents after drinking alcohol than sober teens.
If you or a member of your family has been injured in a car, truck, or motorcycle accident caused by a teen driver, or if you have lost a loved one in such an accident, our experienced car accident attorneys can help to make sure that you have the money you need to cover your losses and expenses. Contact the law firm of Harrell & Nowak today to arrange for an evaluation of your auto accident case.