Teen Car Accidents

Studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety show that on an annual basis, approximately 2,000 teenagers are killed in car accidents, and 200,000 more are injured. 5,000 teenager drivers are involved in fatal crashes each year. Teenage drivers are four times more likely to be charged with traffic violations. There is no question that a huge factor in these statistics is the explosion in usage of electronic devices, and particularly, the increasing practice of texting, reading and sending emails, and speaking on hand held cell phones. We have all observed drivers weaving in and out of lanes, or driving erratically, and often, use of electronic devices is the reason. Additionally, teenage drivers often fail to recognize the risks in certain driving situations, such as in inclement weather or on interstate highways where there are tractor trailers which require a much greater time and distance to stop or to move to another lane if necessary.

At the Law Office of Mark A. Siesel, our car accident lawyers in White Plains have the necessary experience and knowledge to handle cases involving serious injuries and fatalities in auto accident cases. When our clients are involved in serious accidents, we recognize that they are dealing with the pain of these tragedies, and rely on our experience and dedication to make sure they are fully compensated for their injuries, including pain and suffering, medical and hospital bills and expenses, and lost earnings, both past and future.

There are numerous issues which arise when the driver of the car that caused injuries is at fault, including whether the teen driver resides with parents, and whether there is additional insurance coverage by way of either excess or underinsurance coverage in the event that the teen driver is underinsured with a minimal liability policy. There also may be other potentially negligent parties, for example, when the driver is intoxicated and may have been at a bar or club where he or she was served an excessive amount of alcohol. In this instance, there can be a potential claim against the bar owner under what is known as a “Dram Shop” claim, if the bar or club owner served an underage driver or served alcohol to a person who they knew to be intoxicated.

According to the Centers for Disease Control, (CDC) there are several factors that cause teenage drivers to be at risk and to be involved in a greater frequency of accidents, including:

Failing to obey traffic regulations, such as speed limits and following too closely. At higher speeds, teenage drivers are often not aware that it takes more time and distance to stop their car. For example, at 65 miles per hour, a car travels about 95 feet in one second;

• Driving while intoxicated or under the influence of drugs;
• Driving while engaged in distractions such as sending or receiving texts or emails;
• Driving while speaking on a hand held cell phone;
• Overestimating their driving abilities or underestimating the risks of the driving conditions or roadway configuration;
• Driving while there are too many passengers in the vehicle and paying too much attention to these passengers;
• Overly loud music or adjusting the radio while driving.

If you or a loved one has been involved in car accident involving a teenage driver, or suffer serious injuries in any car accident, contact us online or call us at the Law Office of Mark A. Siesel for a free consultation to discuss your case in detail with our experienced, knowledgeable and dedicated attorneys.