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Teen Accident Deaths on the Rise

Posted on behalf of Arnold Law Firm in

car accidentFatal teen auto accidents have spiked almost 10 percent since 2014, according to a recent study by the American Automobile Association (AAA). Through interviews with driving instructors, AAA found that speeding, distracted driving and poor visualization of the roadway were the top mistakes teen drivers make while driving.

According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), within the last five years, there were 14,000 fatal accidents involving teenagers. The data shows that the number of teen driving fatalities had decreased every year since 2005, until 2015 when the number of deaths began to rise.

The NHTSA says that teens are 1.6 times more likely to be involved in a fatal auto accident than adults. Although teenagers are often involved in accidents involving fatalities, the majority of deaths from those accidents involve others present during the incident.

The AAA report concludes that more work must be done to lower fatal teen crashes and the number of resulting deaths. Consultants say three-stage licensing programs in place across the country are estimated to reduce traffic accidents involving teenagers by 30 percent.

While the licensing programs end when drivers turn 18-years-old, the maturity level found in most of those surveyed still does not equal the cognitive abilities that an experienced adult driver may have. AAA believes that this inexperience, combined with poor behavior behind the wheel, has caused the increasing death toll.

The survey found that the risk for death actually increases with age among teens. During the 10-year period that AAA used to conduct its survey, 39 15-year-olds were killed compared to 472 19-year-olds.

Parents are encouraged to educate their children on safe driving habits, which AAA believes will help decrease the number of accidents involving teenagers. Surveyors found that teens use their parents as examples on how to conduct themselves behind the wheel, which carries over to when they begin driving on their own.

If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident, you may be entitled to compensation. The Sacramento car accident attorneys at the Arnold Law Firm will offer you a free review of your claim to see if you have a case.

Call a personal injury attorney today at (916) 777-7777 or fill out our Free Case Review form now

Settlement - $3,767,000

Truck Accident

A 20-year-old man who had been married for just 12 days left home on his way to work. He was driving on Pleasant Grove Road in Sutter County in the early morning when he came upon a slow-moving truck. As he pulled out to pass the truck, the truck driver turned left in front of him. The young man attempted to steer back into his lane but his vehicle struck an un-flagged piece of metal extending from the back of the truck. He died in the resulting crash.

Expert witnesses brought in by the Arnold Law Firm proved that the truck, owned and operated by a hauling firm, should never have been on the highway that morning. Specifically, the rear and side turn signals did not work and the rear-view mirror was in a poor state of adjustment at the time of the collision. As a result, the driver, who had failed to properly inspect the vehicle before setting out that morning, couldn’t see the young man’s vehicle as it attempted to pass.

The poor condition of the truck, its lack of maintenance and the manner in which it was operated were found to be substantial factors in causing the collision that killed the young man. The testimony also established that the man had been making a lawful pass at the lawful speed limit and acted reasonably when he attempted to avoid the collision.

The man’s 20-year-old widow was awarded $3,767,000.77, his parents were awarded $185,131 and the family was reimbursed $11,899 in funeral expenses. Though money is a poor substitute for a young man’s life, this verdict demonstrates that drivers who endanger the lives of others will be held accountable for their actions.