When you look at car accident statistics, you’ll find that the greatest rate of fatal car accidents belongs to teenagers. Out of all the age groups, they cause these deadly crashes at the highest rate.
That doesn’t mean that they cause the greatest total number of fatal accidents every year. It’s just that the age group from 16 to 19 years old is so small. The number of accidents they cause is vastly disproportionate to the size of that group, showing that these are the most dangerous drivers. So why is this?
They may get distracted
Distractions are a major issue for teen drivers. It comes in many forms. Some are distracted by passengers and friends in the car with them, for instance, while others are distracted by the phone.
They’re inexperienced
Experience helps drivers to make proper decisions behind the wheel, and it helps you react appropriately to conditions around you. There’s only so much that you can learn from reading textbooks and practicing with an instructor. Teenagers are always going to have higher risk levels simply because they’re still building up that base of experience.
They may make poor decisions
In some cases, teenagers actively make poor decisions that cause accidents. For instance, they may be more likely to break the speed limit, engage and drag racing or perform other risky driving maneuvers. Sometimes they are seeking to impress their peers, but other times they just don’t fully grasp how dangerous these things are.
Regardless of the exact reason why the accident happened, if a teen driver made a mistake and injured you, be sure you know how to seek financial compensation.