Anyone can pose a risk out on the road. Tired, distracted, drunk, and poorly trained drivers can make errors that in a split-second throw you into danger. Yet, one group of drivers poses a greater hazard out there: teenagers. In fact, statistics have shown that teenagers crash at a rate four times higher than drivers who are age 20 and older. Why are these drivers so dangerous? Let’s take a closer look.
Even the best trained teenagers can struggle to stay safe when in real-world driving situations. Here are some of the issues that can confront them and increase the chances that they’ll cause a devastating car accident:
- Lack of experience: This seems obvious, but even well-trained and the best-meaning teenagers can wind up in new situations that they’ve never experienced before. As a result, they may not know how to react, which means that they can move in an erratic fashion that takes you by surprise.
- A feeling of invincibility: A lot of younger drivers feel free when they can climb behind the wheel on their own. They can also feel invincible. This causes many of them to speed, run red lights and stop signs, and engage in other reckless behavior. While this certainly isn’t across the board when it comes to teen drivers, it’s certainly a real problem that you need to be aware of.
- Fatigue: Teenagers nowadays have a lot going on. The stress of their academics and standardized testing can leave them on edge, the social pressures that they experience can leave them short on sleep, and extracurricular activities can take a lot out of them. As a result, teenage drivers are often tired, which can negatively impact nearly every driving skill that they need to be safe.
- Distraction: Sure, teens are easily distracted by their cellphones, but there are several other things that can take their eyes off the road. This includes interacting with passengers, eating, grooming, looking at navigation devices, and even glancing at sights on the side of the road. Removing their eyes from the road for even a second can create a dangerous situation that leaves you or a loved one hurt.
What should you do if you’ve been harmed in an accident caused by a teenager?
To start, we hope you’re able to avoid one of these wrecks by being as defensive as possible. Keep an appropriate distance between yourself and the driver in front of you, obey all traffic laws, and be prepared for other motorists to act in erratic and unexpected ways.
But if these efforts don’t keep you safe and you still end up harmed by a wreck caused by a teenager, then legal action may be warranted. And pursuing a personal injury lawsuit against the negligent driver and their parents might be the only way to recover the compensation that you need to offset your losses. This is no small thing given how extensive those damages can be. Your medical debt can be crushing, your lost wages can rock your financial stability, and your physical limitations and pain and suffering can crater life as you know it. You deserve to be compensated for these losses.
But successfully pursuing a personal injury lawsuit isn’t as easy as it may seem. Therefore, you should refrain from improvising your claim simply because you think it’s easily winnable. Instead, be diligent in gathering persuasive evidence and developing compelling legal arguments that position you for success. Hopefully then you can find accountably and protect your future.
