Spokane Teen Driver Accident Lawyer

Spokane teen driver accident attorneys know that young and inexperienced drivers are among the riskiest drivers on the road when it comes to accidents and injuries. According to the Washington Department of Transportation, in 2018, young drivers were involved in 688 fatal and serious injury accidents in the state and 22 of those accidents occurred in Spokane. Young drivers are at a high automobile accident risk for a number of reasons including their inexperience, lack of skill, and lack of caution when it comes to driving, but there are a lot of other common factors in young driver car accidents as well.

Common factors and issues in teenage driver accidents

When it comes to young and inexperienced drivers, there are many common behaviors and factors that are involved in their accidents including those listed below.

• Of the previously mentioned 688 serious injury and fatal accidents in 2018, 156 involved drug or alcohol impairment. Impaired driving is risky behavior for all drivers, but especially when it comes to teenage drivers.
• Distracted driving is a serious problem for teenage drivers as well. Many teenagers have smartphones and many of them fail to put their phones down while driving because they simply do not recognize the dangers and consequences related to distracted driving.
• Teenagers are much more likely to be involved in an accident when other teenage occupants are present when they are driving.
• They are at the highest risk for accidents and injuries in the first six months of their driving career.
• Seatbelts save lives, but young drivers and their passengers often fail to recognize the importance of wearing seatbelts. Of the 2018 young driver accidents in Washington, 133 of them involved unrestrained occupants.
• Speed is a common factor in all car accidents, but especially in teenage driver accidents.
• In 2018 there were 265 lane departure and 195 run off the road accidents involving young drivers.
• Teenagers are at a higher accident risk when it comes to weather conditions and driving. They often underestimate and fail to appreciate the impact that conditions such as fog, rain, snow, and ice have on driving.

Alcohol and third party liability

When teenagers cause automobile accidents, their insurance is typically on the hook for resulting injuries and damages, but when alcohol is involved, there may be other parties who are responsible for the injuries and damages as well. The state of Washington recognizes that minors are already at a heightened risk for car accidents and alcohol consumption certainly elevates that risk. Under Washington law, people who sell, serve, or otherwise provide alcohol to minors who are subsequently involved in an accident may be liable for injuries and damages sustained by other people involved in the accident.

If you have been injured in a car accident with a young driver, contact a Spokane teen driver accident attorney at Russell & Hill, PLLC to schedule a consultation. Our car accident attorneys are experienced insurance company negotiators and trial attorneys and they will fight for a full and fair recovery for you and your family.