There are a lot of teenage drivers on our nation’s roads and highways. A report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) confirms that young drivers – a person 15 to 20 years old – account for approximately 5.3% of all licenses. That equates to roughly 12 million young drivers on the road, and that number is anticipated to grow. As AAA of Southern California reports, more teens are obtaining a license before age 18 – over 60% in 2019, representing an 11% increase since 2012.
With so many teenage and young drivers on the road, the potential for car accidents is increased significantly. As the AAA Foundation reports, drivers ages 16-17 continue to have the highest rates of crash involvement, injuries to themselves and others, and deaths of others in crashes in which they are involved (conversely, drivers ages 60-69 were the safest drivers by most measures examined).
Below we’ll look at some important teenage driver statistics and provide information on how to file a claim for financial compensation in the unfortunate event of a car accident injury.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that almost 2,400 teens in the United States aged 13-19 were killed in motor vehicle crashes in 2019, while about 258,000 were treated in emergency departments for injuries suffered in such collisions. Those statistics mean that every day, about seven teens aged 13-19 died as a result of motor vehicle crashes (and hundreds more were injured).
Furthermore, the cost of motor vehicle crash deaths among teens 15-19 years of age is staggering. About $4.8 billion in medical and work loss costs were recorded for teenage driver crashes that occurred in 2018, according to the CDC.
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The CDC also confirms the following important teenage driver statistics:
Some additional teenage driver statistics provided by the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) include:
The IIHS reports that in 2019, teenagers accounted for 7% of total motor vehicle crash deaths, and about two out of every three teenagers killed in crashes were males. However, since 1975, teenage crash deaths have actually decreased more among males (76%) than among females (64%).
The CDC identified eight ‘danger zones’ representing the leading causes of teenage driver crashes and injuries. Those danger zones include:
The CDC also identified six specific risk factors that can lead to motor vehicle crashes among teenage drivers. Those risk factors include inexperience, nighttime/weekend driving, not using seatbelts, distracted driving, speeding, and alcohol or drug use. Let’s look at those risk factors in more detail below.
Those last statistics are particularly troubling, as teenage drivers who fail to view driving under the influence as a danger can severely harm not only themselves but others on the road. As Cathy Chase of Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety told USA Today, the percentage of teens who believe they can drive safely (or even safer) after drinking or using marijuana “seems high. But unfortunately, it’s not surprising because teens think they’re invincible and they think nothing will happen to them. Unfortunately, sometimes it takes a friend or someone in their school getting killed before the reality kind of hits them.”
As the AAA Foundation reports, drivers ages 16-17 are known to have the highest rates of crash involvement. 16-17 year old drivers also have the highest rates of injuries to themselves and others, as well as deaths of others in motor vehicle crashes, making them the most dangerous overall age group for both car accident fatalities and injuries. In most studies, drivers ages 60-69 are known to be the safest on the road.
The table below, provided by the AAA Foundation, offers a snapshot of the number of motor vehicle crashes according to driver age.
Carsurance.net offers some additional statistics that can be useful for improving the road safety for all drivers.
As texting while driving is exceedingly dangerous and leads to an inordinately high number of car accident injuries and fatalities, let’s review some specific statistics related to this issue.
When you’re injured in a car accident, the at-fault driver should be responsible for covering any resulting losses, such as hospital or medical bills, physical therapy expenses, emotional or psychological trauma, lost wages, lost earning capacity, and more.
The best way to ensure that you recover all appliable losses after a car accident – including any future medical care that may be required – is by filing a personal injury civil lawsuit with Dordulian Law Group (DLG). We’ll fight to recover every cent you’re owed after a car accident injury, helping you make a complete recovery – physically, emotionally, and financially.
Schedule an appointment online for a free consultation today, or call us directly to speak to our top-rated, expert car accident attorneys.
While you focus on what’s most important – your overall health and well-being – we’ll focus on the stressful details, like gathering important evidence, haggling with insurance companies and at-fault parties, etc. At DLG, we’re led by a former Deputy District Attorney for Los Angeles County who has successfully obtained over 100 jury trial victories throughout his distinguished career.
Sam Dordulian brings a level of expertise to your car accident claim that simply can’t be found at most personal injury law firms. With a 98% success record and history of recovering more than $100,000,000 in settlements and verdicts, DLG is the absolute best choice you can make when searching for a Los Angeles, California-area car accident lawyer who will fight to ensure you receive the maximum financial damages award you deserve.
Contact us today online or by phone at 818-322-4056 for a free consultation and to learn more about all the added advantages available when you choose DLG to handle your car accident claim. We provide unparalleled service to each and every client, offering a level of personalized attention and dedication that gives you peace of mind knowing that your car accident claim is in good hands, and you’ll never be forced to accept a lowball offer (like with other settlement mill firms) that will not cover losses like future medical care, pain and suffering, emotional trauma, and more.
Those losses are what’s known as non-economic damages in car accident claims, and having a skilled, experienced, and proven attorney like Sam Dordulian can make a substantial difference in the ultimate financial compensation you recover. When you’re injured in a car accident, don’t settle for anything less than the DLG Advantage.
For a car accident injury, the best call you can make is to DLG.
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