Teen drivers in Arizona and around the country are at a much greater risk of being injured or killed in serious car accidents than drivers in other age groups. Not only do teen drivers lack driving experience, they are more likely to speed and less likely to use seat belts. Also, the presence of teen passengers can often distract teen drivers and make them more likely to crash.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, around 2,650 teenagers between 16 and 19 years of age died in car accidents in 2011. There were also 292,000 people between those ages who were treated for car accident injuries in that year. The CDC says that drivers who are in that age range are almost three times more likely to be involved in a fatal accident than drivers who are at least 20 years old.
Drinking and driving is often a factor in fatal car accidents that are caused by teen drivers. Statistics from 2012 showed that 23 percent of drivers between the ages of 15 and 20 who were involved in a fatal car accident were under the influence of alcohol. Teenagers are more likely to be killed in a fatal car crash on Friday, Saturday or Sunday than on other days.
When a teen driver causes a serious auto accident, injured victims may file a claim for damages with the driver’s insurance provider. A lawyer may be able to help an accident victim to recover compensation for medical expenses as well as lost income.