Here's what motorists in Louisville need to know about inexperienced driver accidents.
More teenage drivers cause fatal car accidents in Kentucky than in any other state in the country, according to a recent study conducted by Zutobi, which recently revealed Kentucky as the worst state in the country for teenage driving fatalities.
Unfortunately, crashes involving young drivers aren't just a problem in Kentucky. On a national level, teen driving accidents have become more common than ever in recent years. For instance, in 2020, fatal car accidents caused by teen drivers resulted in 2,966 deaths nationwide, the most in a single year since 2011.
Why are collisions caused by teen drivers so common? What should injury victims or family members do if they're involved in a crash caused by a teen driver? In most cases, the sooner you talk to a lawyer, the better.
In Louisville, injury victims can count on the legal team at The Whaley Law Firm to fight for their rights every step of the way. Contact us today to see how an experienced car accident lawyer can protect your rights and aggressively advocate for your best interests.
Top 4 reasons why teen driving accidents happen
Zutobi's study analyzed car accident statistics from 1982 to 2020 collected by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). As explained above, 2020 was one of the deadliest years on record for fatal car accidents involving teen drivers.
As for Kentucky, the state had significantly more fatal car accidents caused by teen drivers – 71.45 deaths per 100,000 people. The next closest state was North Carolina, with 45.34 deaths per 100,000 people.
Why are teen driving accidents so common in Kentucky? The following contributing factors played a significant role in such collisions.
1. Drunk driving
Even though teenagers are not allowed to drink alcohol legally, as we all know, it happens. Unfortunately, drunk driving accidents caused by teen drivers occur far too often as a result. For example, in 2020, teenagers under the influence of alcohol caused 523 fatal drunk driving accidents nationwide, according to Zutobi.
2. Speeding
Inexperienced teen drivers often drive fast. When they do, the consequences can be deadly. Among teen drivers, 43 percent of fatal car accidents involved speeding, according to a study conducted by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) cited by Zutobi. In contrast, only 30 percent of fatal collisions for all other age groups involve speeding.
3. Texting and driving
Most states, including Kentucky, have laws banning texting while driving. In fact, drivers under 18 years old in Kentucky are prohibited from using their phones for any reason while driving, according to Kentucky's Transportation Department. Even so, many teen drivers still text. When they do, they often cause serious collisions with other drivers, pedestrians, and bicyclists.
4. Distracted driving
Distracted driving includes more than just texting or using a phone while driving. This is especially true for teenage drivers who are driving with their peers. In particular, the more teenage passengers in a vehicle, the more distracted a teen driver will be. According to Teen Driver Source, if two or more teenage passengers are in a vehicle driven by a teenager, the risk of a fatal car accident triples.
How a car accident attorney can help you
You might think you don't need a lawyer to seek compensation for your losses if you or a loved one was injured in a car accident caused by a teenage driver. Unfortunately, even the most seemingly straightforward car accident claims can quickly turn into complicated legal cases.
In Louisville, The Whaley Law Firm consistently obtains sizable settlements and verdicts for our clients. Our legal team won't let an insurance company push you around or pressure you into settling for less than what you deserve. We play hardball when they try to lowball you and always fight for maximum compensation.
Learn more about your legal rights. Contact us and schedule a free consultation to learn how a Louisville car accident attorney can help with your potential legal case. In addition, we work on a contingency fee basis. That means you only have to pay us if we secure a financial settlement or verdict for you. It's that simple.