Charlotte Injury Lawyers Blog
Study Finds Summer Accidents Continue to Rise for Teen Drivers
Summer is supposed to be a fun time, especially for teens who are not in school. The warm months bring lots of outdoor activities, and teens are taking to the roads to learn and practice their driving skills. Unfortunately, summer also brings more traffic-related deaths than other seasons of the year. Teens are involved in a proportionately larger number of serious accidents during the summer months.
Summer is Deadly for Teen Drivers
The summer months prove to be deadly for teen drivers across the country. The American Automobile Association (AAA) calls the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day the “100 Deadliest Days of Summer”. Studies have found that this period is dangerous on the roadways for young drivers between the ages of 15 and 20. While overall traffic fatalities have been trending downward, traffic deaths for teen drivers continue to rise, with a 17% increase over the last two years. North Carolina ranks fourth highest for teen driver fatalities.
What Causes Teen Accidents?
Teen accidents happen for a variety of reasons. Speed is also a common reason for accidents among teenagers. Distracted driving is another common problem, particularly among teenagers. Although using a cell phone to text while driving is illegal, many people continue to do it. Distracted driving includes any action that takes your eyes off the road, your hands off the wheel, or your focus off driving. Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs is also a potential cause of accidents. Inexperience can make it difficult for teens to handle issues that arise while they are behind the wheel.
Teen Driver Safety
Teen driver safety is of the utmost importance. Parents need to ensure that they assist their teens in learning defensive driving behind the wheel. Teens must not be allowed to use their phones when driving. Practice driving with your teen in all types of traffic, road, and weather conditions to provide them with a wide array of skills. To help with teen driving safety, North Carolina has a graduated driver’s license program.
Level 1 is a limited learner permit, which consists of two phases. Teens must complete 30 hours of classroom instruction and 6 hours behind the wheel. Level 2 allows a 16 or 17-year-old with a level 1 permit for at least 9 months to obtain a level 2 permit with 60 hours of logged driving practice time to take a road test. Teens who have maintained a Level 2 permit for at least 6 months may graduate to Level 3, a full provisional license.
What to Do After an Accident
There are a few things you should do if you are involved in an accident. Call the police immediately to report the crash. The police will help secure the roadway, investigate the incident, and write a report. Seek medical treatment right away. Some injuries that seem minor could actually be quite significant and may worsen over time. Before making a statement to the insurance company, it may be a good idea to consult with an experienced personal injury attorney. Your lawyer will help protect your rights and assist you in obtaining compensation for your injuries.
If you or a loved one were hurt in an accident, don’t delay. Call us today at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, at (704) 370-2828 to request a free initial consultation.
The skilled personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, are dedicated to maximizing financial recovery and obtaining justice for every personal injury client injured by another party’s negligence. The issues our personal injury clients may be facing include, but are not limited to, slip and fall injuries, wrongful death, product liability, catastrophic injuries, dog bite claims, car, and truck accident injuries, motorcycle injuries, traumatic brain injury (TBI), nursing home negligence, spinal cord injury, boating accidents, and defective medical device injury. Our personal injury attorneys understand the devastating impact such an injury can have on a person’s life and that the effects often go beyond physical pain and suffering. The personal injury attorneys at Arnold & Smith, PLLC, are dedicated to helping clients determine their claims’ strength and aggressively pursuing the means necessary to achieve the best possible end result for each client’s particular situation.
Source:
https://www.ncdot.gov/dmv/license-id/driver-licenses/new-drivers/Pages/teen-drivers.aspx
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