Vehicle Accidents are the Leading Cause of Teenage Deaths

Car Accidents are the leading cause of teenage deaths accounting for about 36% of all deaths in the age group according to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC). The disturbing statistics reveal that over 5,000 teens between the ages of 16 and 20 die each year due to fatal injuries stemming from car accidents. In addition, nearly 400,000 teens in the same age group suffer serious injuries in vehicle accidents each year. The CDC reports that the risk of being involved in a car accident are the highest for drivers between the ages of 16-20. In fact, teenage drivers are about four times more likely than other drivers to crash for each mile driven. Male teen drivers are the most at-risk for fatal car crashes as 19.4 per 100,000 are killed in vehicle accidents each year.

Several causes have been linked to the elevated risk of teenage car accident fatalities. Studies of teenage driving habits have shown that drivers within the age group have the lowest rate of seatbelt use, are less able to recognize dangerous situations, tend to tailgate more often, and tend to speed more often than other demographics. In addition, approximately 24% of the drivers killed between the ages of 15 and 20 had been driving while intoxicated. Nearly 54% of teenage car accident deaths occur on the weekends.

If you are a parent you should make sure to educate your teenager regarding the risks of operating a motor vehicle. If you have any questions related to teenage car accidents or would otherwise like to speak with a lawyer, please click here.