Teen Car Accidents

Although young adults (people between the ages of 15 and 24 years old) only make up 14 percent of the U.S. population, they account for about 30 percent of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries each year. For a variety of reasons, teen car accidents occur at a higher rate than for most other age groups. In addition to driver inexperience, teens are more likely to engage in distracted driving and other risky behaviors behind the wheel. If you or a loved one has been injured in a teen car accident, it’s a good idea to speak with a personal injury lawyer as soon as possible about your case.

Teen Car Accident Facts

• In 2011, 2,650 teens were killed in car crashes across the nation.
• Approximately 292,000 teens were injured in wrecks in 2011.
• In 2011, teen male drivers and passengers were almost two times as likely to die in a crash as teen female drivers and passengers.
• Among teen male drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2012, 37 percent were speeding at the time of the crash.
• Among teen male drivers involved in fatal crashes in 2012, 25 percent had been drinking.
• Of the teens who died in passenger vehicle crashes in 2012, approximately 55 percent were not wearing their seat belts at the time of the crash.

Leading Cause of Death for Teens

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens across the U.S. Teen drivers aren’t the only ones at risk. Often times, these are multi-car crashes or teen drivers with multiple teen passengers. Teens driving with other teens in the car are at a particularly high risk of getting into a crash. Teen drivers face certain risk factors, like additional peer passengers, that put them at a higher risk for injury-causing and fatal crashes. For parents, it’s important to know the risk factors and talk to teen drivers about the dangers associated with those factors. If your teen has been injured in a crash with another teen driver, it’s time to talk to an experienced personal injury attorney.