We are entering a particularly dangerous time of the for teenagers who are newly driving. As we edge into May, all the fun spring activities like proms, graduations and parties begin to take place.
Unfortunately, this heady brew of gaiety and newfound independence can bring some heavy consequences — both to the teens themselves and others nearby on the highways. Below are some sobering statistics about this deadly time of year.
A season of celebration
During the months of April-June, approximately a third of all teenage traffic deaths that occur annually due to alcohol usage by a driver happen. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) estimates that a thousand teens and young adults under 21 suffer fatal injuries in preventable collisions during prom and graduation celebrations.
June is also a celebratory time, with groups of friends taking trips to the shore after graduation, right at the same time that families are also taking to the roads for their own early summer vacations. Should they collide, the results can be lethal.
Alcohol often plays a major role in these dangers
Parents like to believe that their teens won’t cave to peer pressure and drink before they turn 21. But that’s often not the case, as the Foundation for Advancing Alcohol Responsibility determined that over 50% of those aged 13 to 20 who responded to their survey revealed they had consumed alcoholic beverages.
Hold those responsible for your damages
If you are injured in an accident with a young driver, whether during this spring season or elsewhere, you may need to file a claim for damages against the at-fault teen’s parents’ insurance company.
Regardless of whether the teenage driver faces criminal charges for the acident, you still have a path available to seek civil justice.