Motor vehicle accidents are responsible for the highest number of fatalities among teenagers than any other cause of death, and it’s no wonder why. Teenagers in the U.S. are more likely to engage in risky driving behaviors than any other age group. Statistics show that approximately 75 percent of all accidents in which teenagers die are caused by auto accidents.
“Clearly, teens in the age group of 16 and 19 are more likely to be involved in a motor vehicle accident,” says our Philadelphia teen driver accident attorney at Dan Doyle Law Group. Still, Pennsylvania law holds teenage drivers to the same standard of care as adult motorists in our state. Nonetheless, the process of seeking compensation from a teenage driver is different from the process of suing an adult driver who was at fault for causing your injury.
Why are teenagers more likely to get into car crashes?
Some of you might be wondering, “Why are teenage drivers at a greater risk of causing a motor vehicle accident compared to adults?” Our experienced teen driver accident attorney in Philadelphia is going to explain what makes teenagers so dangerous when they get behind the wheel.
Statistically speaking, teenage drivers are four times more likely to get into a car accident within their first year of driving. Approximately seven teenagers under the age of 20 die in motor vehicle collisions every single day. That’s more than 2,500 fatalities each year.
Here are the top reasons why teenagers are more likely to cause a motor vehicle accidents:
- It’s nearly impossible to get teenage drivers to wear a seat belt unless you specifically tell them to
- Teenage drivers are more likely to get behind the wheel while intoxicated or impaired than adult drivers
- Teenage drivers lack experience and driving skills, which means they are more likely to violate traffic rules simply because they have no idea which driving behaviors and maneuvers are prohibited by law
- Generally, teenage drivers have slower reaction times because it takes years of practice to develop good reaction times
- The vast majority of teenagers find it rather problematic to stay away from their cell phone while operating a vehicle
- Teenage drivers are much more likely to cause a car accident when driving with passengers of their age
Causes of car accidents involving teenagers
Causes of car accidents involving teenage drivers vary greatly from one case to another, though the vast majority of car crashes involving teens are usually caused by one or several of the following causes:
- Lack of experience- Sure, you cannot expect a person to operate a vehicle like a pro from the second they put their hands on the steering wheel. However, a teenage driver cannot escape liability by arguing that he or she did not know that what they did was illegal, as knowing traffic laws is the number one requirement when obtaining a driver’s license.
- Immaturity- Immaturity and driving safely do not seem to blend well. That’s why, as evidence from statistics, teenage drivers are more likely to be impatient, aggressive, inattentive, and reckless when operating a vehicle. For an average teenage driver, driving a motor vehicle is more about escaping their everyday struggles (which, unfortunately, often involves speeding) than merely getting around the city.
- Cell phone use and other distractions- Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine teenagers not being glued to their cell phones 24/7. Unfortunately, this often means that teenagers get distracted by their phones while driving.
- Speeding- Unfortunately, the thrill of driving fast seems to be the top reason why many teenagers decide to learn to drive. This has a lot to do with immaturity, which we discussed earlier.
- Alcohol- Drunk driving is one of the leading causes of motor vehicle accidents involving teenage drivers. Most teenagers think that it’s cool to operate a vehicle while intoxicated, while others are convinced that they will get away with driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs.
Contact our lawyers at Dan Doyle Law Group to discuss your particular case. Call our offices to get a free consultation.
Free case consultation