Protecting Teenage Drivers from Motor Vehicle Accidents

Advice from Washington Metropolitan Area Car Accident Lawyers

Motor vehicle accidents kill more teenagers than any other factor; one third of all teen deaths in the United States are because of auto accidents. In fact, teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 are four times more likely to crash their cars than older drivers. The Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC car accident lawyers at Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis & Lightfoot, L.L.P. are committed to increasing public awareness of the dangers of teenage driving, and we are providing this information to educate parents and prevent fatal car accidents involving teens.

In 2009, eight teenagers died every day on average from car accident injuries, according to the Centers for Disease Control. Additionally, the CDC reports that the crash risk is the highest during the first year of driving eligibility, and that teenagers:

• Are less likely to wear seatbelts than adults
• Are more likely than adults to crash under the influence of drugs or alcohol
• Are more likely to get into car accidents later in the day and on the weekend
• Are more likely to get into car accidents if they are driving with other teens as passengers
• Are more likely to text while driving

Teenagers are inexperienced drivers; learning all the ways to avert crises and handle a car in bad weather can take years. Teenagers’ lack of maturity can lead to carelessness and recklessness. They feel invincible and are more likely to think they will live forever. One bad choice, however, is enough to leave a teen paralyzed, brain damaged or dead. Even if the teen driver avoids injury himself, he could injure or kill his passengers, a pedestrian or another driver. He could fall victim to another driver’s negligence if he does not know how to react in a bad situation.

Parents should work with their teens to educate them about road safety, stressing seatbelt use and following the rules of the road to avoid a car wreck. Parents should also show their kids what to do if their cars skid, hydroplane or slide. They should supervise their teens’ driving as often as possible and consider enrolling their teens in defensive driving courses. They should discourage their teens from using their cell phones while they drive, whether for talking or for texting, even with a hands free device. While Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC do not require driver training courses to obtain a driver’s license, parents should require their children to take driver education classes either through their schools or through recognized programs, such as AAA.

Your teen is at the mercy of other drivers, and if she does not know how to handle her car in a crisis, the results can be disastrous. The Maryland, Virginia and Washington DC car accident attorneys of Koonz, McKenney, Johnson, DePaolis & Lightfoot, L.L.P. know that one instance can change lives forever. If a car wreck injured or killed your teenaged child, you may be able to recover compensation for your damages and your loss. Contact us for more information about car accidents and for a free consultation.