There are many dangers on the Florida roads, but one of the most worrisome is teen drivers who are lacking the experience and judgment to avoid auto accidents. This concern is exacerbated in the summer as more teens will be on the road.
Law enforcement and researchers are keenly aware of the combination of factors that make teen drivers one of the riskiest groups on the road. Despite their best efforts, however, crashes are sometimes unavoidable and those who have been injured or lost a loved one in an accident must be aware of how to move forward with a legal filing to be compensated.
Officers provide anecdotal evidence that teens take unnecessary risks behind the wheel. Selfies, driving at excessive speed, texting, all are illegal behaviors that teens show no reluctance to take part in when driving.
Researchers have dubbed the time after Memorial Day as the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer.” Statistics bolster this designation. On average, 260 teens lose their lives in auto accidents for each summer month. That is a rise of 26% vs. other months. Distracted driving is a factor in 60% of these teen accidents.
While most will attribute distracted driving to cellphone use, studies indicate that live passengers are a greater concern with 15% of accidents being due to teens interacting with them. Only 12% are due to using a cellphone to talk or text.
For drivers who are sharing the road with teens in the summer, there is understandable worry about how these new drivers behave on the road. Regardless of the steps a more experienced driver will take to avoid auto accidents, in many cases there is little they can do to prevent them. These accidents can cause injuries with medical costs, lost income and long-term damage.
They can even result in fatalities. After auto accidents, it is imperative to have a full investigation to determine the cause. With summer beckoning, those who have a crash must remember their rights and call a law firm experienced in auto accidents to consider pursuing compensation with a lawsuit.