Risk of Teen Car Accidents Worse with Teen Passengers
There are innumerable dangers on the road in Altoona and all across Pennsylvania. People will be cognizant of them when they head out on the road in any capacity. Encountering a drunk driver, a reckless driver, a negligent driver or a distracted driver are among the most frequently referenced risks. All can cause car accidents with injuries and fatalities. Some of the most problematic drivers on the road are teens. Because they are new drivers and will frequently make mistakes due to youth and inexperience, it is wise to keep a watch for them.
Research has found that in addition to the above-listed behaviors that can cause an accident and are prominent in teens, there is another unexpected issue that can cause a crash: teens driving with fellow teens in the vehicle. There is a major difference in safety when teens are driving with other teens as passengers. According to AAA, the number of accidents with fatalities rose by more than 50 percent when there was a teen passenger compared to when teens drove by themselves. This rise was for everyone who was involved. That includes the teens in the vehicles, people in other vehicles, pedestrians and bicyclists.
Other motorists were 56 percent more likely to die when teens had other teens in the vehicle. Teens themselves were 45 percent more likely to die. Pedestrians and bicyclists were 17 percent more likely. The fatality numbers almost quadruple when the teen has teen passengers at night or are driving at excessive speed.
AAA offers ideas to make the roads safer for these young drivers. Parents are advised to try and stop their teens from driving with other teens in the vehicle. It also says that the teen should drive with the parent in the vehicle for at least 100 hours before going off on their own. When the teens have a passenger over the age of 35, the fatality rates reduce by 8 percent.
After a car accident in which there are injuries and fatalities, there will be an investigation into the crash to determine how and why it happened. If teens were involved, the focus will naturally be on whether they were distracted, under the influence or behaving recklessly. This new information adds another layer to the crash as simply having more than one teen in the vehicle can be a vital part of the case. A law firm that understands how to investigate car accidents and is experienced in helping people recover damages. His could help recover compensation to address medical expenses, lost wages, funeral costs and more is integral to a case and should be called immediately.