Risk of a fatal teen car crash examined
Car accidents are a leading cause of death for teens and pre-teens in the United States. New research indicates that the risk of a fatal car crash is increased when a passenger between the ages of 8 and 17 is riding with teen drivers, travelling on high-speed roads or not wearing a seatbelt.
A study published last month in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine examined data for nearly 10,000 teens and pre-teens who were killed as passengers in a fatal car crash between 2000 and 2005. Researchers identified the three largest risk factors which can contribute to a teen death in an accident as:
- Teen Drivers: Approximately 54% of the auto accident deaths involved children who were riding with a teenage driver.
- High-Speed Roads: Over 75% of the fatal crashes occurred on roads with speed limits in excess of 45 miler per hour.
- Failure to Wear Seatbelt: About 66% of the teenage passenger deaths involved not wearing a seatbelt at the time of the crash.
Other important factors identified by the research included the use of alcohol, riding with male teen drivers and weekend accidents.
Researchers have made several recommendations for changes to state laws which could help reduce the risk of a fatal teen accident, including:
- Children should be at least 16 years old before being allowed to obtain a learner’s permit (Currently 39 states allow drivers 15 years old or younger to obtain a learners permit)
- Teens under the age of 18 should not be allowed to have more than one teen passenger in the car with them if there is not an adult present (Currently only 34 states have a similar restriction)
FATAL CAR CRASH LAWYERS
The Maryland accident lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. pursue wrongful death lawsuits and claims involving serious injuries in auto accidents throughout the United States. Following a fatal teen accident, it is important to make sure that the family’s legal rights are protected. To review a potential case, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.
