Statistics show that car accidents kill more teenagers in the U.S. than any other cause of death. In fact, according to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), about 75 percent of all fatal accidents involving teenagers are caused by motor vehicle accidents.
As if the above-mentioned teen car accident statistics were not disturbing enough, how about the fact that teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 are four times more likely to get into car crashes than older motorists in the U.S.?
It’s clear that teenagers are more at risk to be in car accidents, but what many do not realize is that Washington state law holds teenage drivers to the same standard of care as adult drivers in the state. Our Seattle teen driver accident attorney at Russell & Hill, PLLC, explains that teenage drivers must exercise reasonable care to ensure their own safety and the safety of other motorists they share the road with.
But why are teenage drivers more likely to cause and be killed in car crashes? Is it only because of their age? In reality, multiple factors come into play to explain why teenagers are more at risk to cause car accidents.
Fact: Teenager drivers have the highest risk of getting into a car accident during their first year of driving.
Statistically speaking, each day, about seven teenagers under 20 die from life-threatening injuries caused by car accidents. So what puts teenagers at the greatest risk of crashing their vehicle?
Even a minor mistake or driving error can lead to the most devastating car accident, which can result in catastrophic injuries and even deaths. Unfortunately, many teenagers do not realize this and endanger themselves, their passengers, and other motorists by driving negligently, carelessly, or recklessly.
Our experienced teenage driving accident attorney in Seattle has outlined some of the most common causes of automobile crashes caused by teen drivers in Washington state and elsewhere in the U.S.:
One of the first questions a victim of a car crash caused by a teenage driver will ask is whether the teen’s parents can be held responsible for the accident. Sometimes, victims may be able to hold the parents of the teenager who caused a car accident liable for their resulting injury.
Contact a Seattle teenage driver accident lawyer at Russell & Hill, PLLC, to discuss your case and establish fault. Call our offices at 206-516-2045 to get a free consultation today.