Car Accidents and Teens
The Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC) reports that a lack of experience, driving with other teens in the car, and nighttime driving are common risk factors in teen driver crashes. Other common causes of teen car accidents include:
- Distracted driving
- Drowsy driving
- Reckless driving
- Impaired driving
If you suffered injuries in an accident with a teen driver, a Florida teen car accident injury lawyer from our firm can help you fight for compensation. You may be able to recover compensation for your medical care, pain and suffering, lost wages, and other damages.
Lack of Experience By Which Teen Dies in Car Accident
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), teen drivers often do not have the experience and judgment to adapt to different situations while driving and may cause accidents.
For instance, the NHTSA reports teen drivers are more likely to overcompensate when their vehicles steer off the shoulder of the road.
Likewise, the lack of driving experience can cause teens to be unaware of or fail to use preventative driving behaviors, such as:
- Identifying potential road hazards in advance
- Reducing their risk by adjusting their speed or position
- Effectively communicating their intentions to other drivers
Teen Driving Statistics and Distracted Driving
Inexperienced driving can also contribute to teenagers being more likely to engage in distracted driving. While cell phones are a major source of distraction for teen drivers, distracted driving also may result from having other teens in the vehicle, eating or drinking, playing music, and applying makeup.
The NHTSA reports that one in three teenage drivers admitted to texting while driving. When combined with the inexperience of the teen driver, distracted driving can be lethal, both for the teen drivers and their passengers but also for occupants of other vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
Impaired Teen Drivers
One of the other most common causes of teen car accidents is impaired driving, whether due to alcohol or drug consumption. Teen drivers who drink any amount of alcohol increase their risk of causing an accident.
As our teen driver accident lawyers in Florida can tell you, the consequences of a crash involving an impaired teenage driver can be grave. Impaired teen drivers not only put themselves at significant risk, but they also put others at increased risks of suffering injuries in an accident. When this situation occurs, teen drivers and their parents may face liability for any accidents that the teen driver causes.
Reckless teen drivers in Florida
According to the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), teen drivers often engage in risky and reckless driving behaviors that can cause crashes that result in injuries or death. In Florida, almost 59,000 teen drivers received citations for excessive speed in 2019. Another 18,000 teen drivers engaged in careless driving that led to citations.
Your Legal Options if a Teen Driver Caused Your Crash
When a teen driver crash occurs, you may suffer significant injuries. If a negligent teen driver caused your accident, they or their parents might be liable for your damages. You can typically pursue compensation in an insurance claim or a personal injury lawsuit.
Depending on your situation, you may be able to seek compensation for your:
- Medical bills (current and future)
- Lost wages (current and future)
- Property damage
- Pain and suffering
- Other out-of-pocket costs
- Other non-economic damages
A different set of damages may be available in a wrongful death case. A Florida teens and car accidents lawyer from our firm can provide you with a full explanation of the damages for which you may be eligible.
The Deadline to Due for Teen Driving Accidents
If you were hurt in a car accident in Florida, it is important to take legal action promptly. Per Florida Statutes § 95.11, there is a general four-year statute of limitations on personal injury lawsuits.
If you wait longer than this to file your lawsuit, it may be dismissed. With sufficient notice, a lawyer from our firm can help you file your lawsuit on time.
Contact Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato for a free consultation today
Car accidents can result in injuries to you and your loved ones. Many of these causes illustrate negligence on the part of teenage drivers, which can lead to damages to compensate you for your accident-related losses.
Law Offices of Wolf & Pravato represent car accident lawyers in Fort Lauderdale victims in South Florida. A lawyer from our firm can take care of all the legal work in your case while you focus on your recovery. As a contingency-fee firm, you don’t pay us attorney’s fees unless and until you win your case.
Call (954) 633-8270 today for your free consultation with a member of our team. We treat our clients like friends and family and look forward to providing you with prompt and responsive legal care. We encourage you to browse our glowing reviews to learn more about clients’ experiences.
