Did you know that motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death for American teenagers? Moreover, did you know that the fatal accident rate for drivers from 16 to 19 years old is disproportionately high, coming in with a higher fatality rate than you will find in any other age group?
These are concerning statistics. They help to show exactly how dangerous the road is for teenagers. They are the age group that is most likely to get involved in a serious accident, at least on a per capita basis. But why is it that teen drivers are so much more likely to be involved in catastrophic crashes?
They lack experience
The biggest reason for this trend is simply that these young drivers lack experience, and that leads to mistakes or oversights. Teen drivers may hit the brakes too late, accidentally tailgate, drive too quickly into a turn, or be more likely to take aggressive risks like weaving through traffic or speeding up to get through a yellow light and inadvertently running a red light.
It is not that other drivers in older age groups will not make these same mistakes. They do, but experience makes them less likely. Older drivers figure out how to maintain a safe following distance, or they begin to really understand the risks of aggressive driving.
But the problem is that experience takes time. Someone who is 16 is more likely to make a driving mistake because they have just started, and it is a brand-new skill for them. They will improve their skills over time, but there is a chance they could cause a serious crash while they do.
If you have been injured in an accident caused by another negligent driver, perhaps because of that driver’s inexperience, then you need to know how to seek financial compensation for medical bills and other costs.
