Any driver can cause a fatal accident at any age. However, the statistics do show that the rate of fatal car accidents is higher for teen drivers from 16 to 19 years old. Additionally, car accidents are the leading cause of death for young people. This shows that, from a statistical perspective, car accidents have a disproportionate effect on young drivers.
But this is also a risk for everyone else who has to share the road with them. You do not necessarily have to make a single driving mistake to be involved in a crash caused by a teenager, and that crash could have severe consequences for you and your family. So why is it that teens have such a high fatal crash rate?
They lack experience as drivers
The root of the issue is that teens are inexperienced. They have not been driving for very long, so they are more likely to make serious mistakes.
For example, when judging a following distance, it is wise to count off three seconds. A greater following distance is needed at higher speeds – such as on the interstate – than at lower speeds. Counting off the time helps drivers adjust so that they can stay safe and avoid rear-end accidents.
But a teenage driver could make a critical error. Maybe they just look at the physical distance rather than counting off seconds. Or perhaps they do not understand what a safe following distance is supposed to look like in the first place, so they inadvertently tailgate on a consistent basis, eventually leading to a serious rear-end accident. If these drivers had more experience, they would understand how to maintain a safe following distance, but young drivers will simply make mistakes.
If you or your family have been involved in a serious crash, you need to know what legal steps to take to seek appropriate compensation.
