Obtaining a driver’s license is a rite of passage for many Michigan teenagers that signifies entry into a new phase of life. While being able to legally drive a motor vehicle provides teens with independence and freedom, it also poses a risk of injury to others on the road. According to the Michigan Department of State,1 16 and 17-year-old drivers have the highest crash rates of any group. In addition, it is well documented that younger drivers are generally more likely to be involved in accidents than their older counterparts. While Michigan’s Graduated Driver’s Licensing program is taking steps to address these risks, teen drivers continue to cause accidents, sometimes leaving victims with serious injuries that may affect them for years.
Teens can be susceptible to negligent driving
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention2 (CDC) lists several factors that put teen drivers at an increased risk of involvement in an accident. These include the following:
- Teens are less likely to recognize dangerous situations and often underestimate the dangers posed by situations they recognize as hazardous
- Teens are more likely to speed and closely follow other vehicles than older drivers
- Teens tend to engage in risky behavior more often went there are male teenage passengers
- Teenage accident risk is higher than adult accident risk at all levels of blood alcohol concentration (BAC)
In order to recover compensation after an accident, victims must be able to establish that their accident was the result of some type of negligence. Some of the common forms of teenage driver negligence that often results in serious accidents include the following:
- Speeding
- Failure to yield
- Following too closely
- Driving without headlights at night
- Taking improper turns
- Ignoring poor weather conditions
- Running a stop sign
- Failing to observe stop lights
- Improper vehicle maintenance
- Impaired driving
After an accident involving a teenage driver, victims should be sure to contact emergency services by calling 911. In addition, it is important for victims to document as much information about their accident as possible, including the time of day the accident occurred, the weather conditions at the time of the accident, the names of the drivers involved in the accident, and contact information from anyone that may have witnessed the crash take place. Victims should always undergo a thorough medical evaluation after involvement in an accident in order to make sure that their injuries are correctly diagnosed and officially documented.
Contact a Michigan car accident law firm today to schedule a free case evaluation with an attorney
People who are injured by the negligence or recklessness of other drivers can often recover compensation for their losses, including their medical expenses, lost income, loss of quality of life, and property damage, as well as others. By retaining an attorney familiar with representing car accident victims, people who are injured in wrecks can ensure that they receive the compensation to which they are entitled as quickly and efficiently as possible. To schedule a free consultation with a car accident attorney, call Michigan Injury Lawyers today at 313-438-4357 or send us an email through our online contact form.
https://www.michiganinjurylawyers.com/michigan-car-accident-lawyer/
References:
1 http://www.michigan.gov/sos/0,4670,7-127-1627_60169_60179---,00.html
2 http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html