Like every other skill, you need to practice driving in order to master it. However, learners make costly mistakes and are responsible for a huge percentage of car accidents in the United States every year. Negligent behavior such as texting while driving and speeding could lead to fatal car accidents. This behavior is not only limited to learners but experienced drivers also engage in these bad habits. If you were involved in a car accident with someone who has a learner’s permit, liability may not always be straightforward and you should consider contacting a New Bedford car accident lawyer to help you handle the case.
Are Teen Drivers a higher accident risk?
Sadly this is true. Inexperience plus distracted driving makes them a huge threat to other drivers and to themselves. They are a high accident risk in the summer when they do long-distance travel with less supervision and they have passengers who also act as a distraction.
According to the Insurance Information Institute, 7.8% of drivers involved in fatal car accidents in the United States in 2019 were aged between 15-20. 15% of those drivers were driving under the influence of alcohol. The CDC reports that seven teens die every day due to car accidents.
What factors put teen drivers at risk of car accidents?
1. Inexperience
Teen drivers might underestimate dangerous situations, unlike older drivers. They’re also more likely to make critical decisions that can lead to serious accidents.
2. Weekend and nighttime driving
It’s riskier to drive at night than during the day for all drivers but it is particularly dangerous for teenagers. According to data collected by the National Household Travel survey, drivers aged between 16 to 19 years are most likely to get involved in fatal car accidents while driving at night compared to adult drivers.
3. Failure to use seat belts
According to data, teen drivers are less likely to use seat belts compared to young adults. In a survey conducted in 2019 43.1% of high school students in the United States indicated that they do not always wear a seatbelt when someone else is driving.
4. Distracted driving
In the era of social media, it’s very easy to get distracted especially for those who rely on social media as a source of income or a way to engage people. A survey shows that 30% of high school students emailed or texted while driving.
5. Overspeeding
6. Driving under the influence of Alcohol and Other Drugs
What is the purpose of a learner’s permit for teen drivers?
The law requires teen drivers with a learner’s permit to be supervised. Obtaining a learner’s permit is a simple way of easing teen drivers into the responsibilities of operating a car in public. This is why several restrictions are placed on new drivers like the number of passengers they can have in their car as well as the time of day that they can drive. Having an adult supervisor with the teen driver in the car is meant to curb risky behaviors such as distracted driving. Think of it as a probationary period where learners are expected to adopt safety patterns before handing them all the benefits of a driver’s license.
Can a teen driver face consequences for causing a car accident?
They can still face serious consequences if it is found that they caused the accident due to their own negligence. They may get penalized or they may get points on their license. Accumulating a certain number of points on their permit could delay getting a driver’s license.
A teen driver qualifies under their parents’ personal injury protection (PIP), which is required under Massachusetts law. Parents are required to notify their insurer when their teen starts driving so that they know there’s a new driver under their policy. This means that financial compensation will come from the car insurance of their parents or the supervising driver.
How a New Bedford car accident lawyer can help you recover damages after getting into a car accident with a teen driver
A New Bedford car accident lawyer will negotiate with the driver’s parents’ Insurance Company to get you a fair settlement that’ll adequately compensate you for property damage as well as your injuries. Contact Kevin P Landry law offices at 508-999-0800 to discuss your car accident claim today.
