Texas Teen Driver Accident Lawyer
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Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States, and teens are more likely than adults to get into car crashes. Thousands of teens die in car accidents every year, and nearly 300,000 nationwide are treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to car accidents, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teenagers and young adults make up 14 percent of the national population, but account for 28 to 30 percent of the costs of car crash injuries. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) says that teens make 70 percent more insurance claims for accidents than other drivers. Teen accidents often occur due to inexperience. Unfortunately, they also result from bad choices.
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If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by a teen driver, you may have a claim that may allow you to receive compensation for your injuries and other damages stemming from the accident. You may be able to recover your medical costs, lost wages, and payment for your pain and suffering, any disability or disfigurement you experienced, and your loss of normal life. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you figure out your options for proceeding with a claim, and represent you in negotiations or a lawsuit to get you a fair settlement or jury verdict.
Dangerous of Teen Driving and Auto Accidents
It’s a commonly accepted belief that teenagers think they’re immortal and invincible. Someone just on the cusp of adulthood, who is tasting new freedoms for the first time such as driving a car, often doesn’t comprehend the reality that life is fragile and can be changed in an instant. Because of that, teen drivers often aren’t as careful on the road as adults — and that lack of a sense of mortality and maturity can lead to tragic consequences. Teens also have the lowest rate of seat belt among any age group, with just 55 percent of high school students reporting that they use one when they ride in a vehicle. Failing to use seat belts can mean that teen drivers and passengers experience more severe injuries and a higher rate of fatalities when in a car crash.
But it isn’t only the teen at risk when a teen driver gets behind the wheel and causes a collision. A car accident may injure other drivers, passengers, bicyclists, or pedestrians — and since alcohol and/or speed often are factors in auto collisions caused by teen drivers, injuries can be very serious for other people involved. Teenagers have car insurance just as any adult does. This car insurance exists to cover the costs of damages when a serious accident occurs and victims are badly hurt.
Common Causes of Teen Crashes
When teen drivers get behind the wheel, there are a number of common factors that lead to crashes. Many of them relate to a teen driver’s relative immaturity and inexperience on the road. Among the most common factors in crashes caused by teen drivers are:
- Speeding – When asked by Allstate what their opinion on speeding was, 17 percent of teen drivers actually said it was “fun,” while 55 percent said they had sped in their car, going 10 or more mph beyond the legal speed limit.
- Driver Distraction – Around 11 percent of fatal car crashes involving teen drivers under age 20 involve some type of distraction, Distraction.gov reports. This might include any type of visual, manual or cognitive distraction. However, cell phones and texting can be especially distracting.
- Drinking and Driving – while driving and driving is an issue no matter the age. Underage drinking and driving among teens is a leading contribution to teenage auto accidents.
- Driver Drowsiness – A study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that teens tend to pull over to rest less often than other drivers if they find themselves too tired to drive safely.
Attorney for Car Accidents Caused by Minor-Drivers
Minor drivers between the ages of 16-19 are at high risk for auto accidents, endangering both themselves and others sharing the road. According to the Center for Disease Control, auto accidents are the leading killer of teenagers, with seventeen auto accident fatalities a day occurring in 2010. The auto accident attorney regularly file compensation claims for our clients' auto accident cases caused by inexperienced, minor drivers. If you were injured in a collision caused by a minor driver, contact our office now for a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
New motorists are still learning the skills and habits that it takes to become safe drivers. Teens are three times more likely to be in a fatal crash than drivers over 20 years of age. Because of that, the financial liability of teen drivers increases dramatically compared to more experienced motorists. This liability can extend to the teen's parents if their child caused an accident-related injury or fatality.
Houston Auto Accident Lawyer Helping People Injured In Car Accidents With Teen Drivers
Every injury sustained in a Texas car accident must be addressed with the victim's best interest in mind. In situations where a person is injured by a teen driver, other aspects of the accident must be considered to ensure that insurance coverage for the accident does not contain any exclusions or other clauses which could result in coverage exclusions. The Pascoe Law Firm has the experience with the many unique issues encountered when teen drivers injure others in accidents. We welcome you to contact us to discuss your legal options at 713-829-4317 or visit our main car accident page for more information.
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Webpage is intended solely for residents of Texas or Persons seeking representation within Texas. An Attorney-Client relationship only occurs when both parties agree that the Attorney will represent the Client and will not be created until that agreement occurs. Website and all of its pages is intended to be used for educational purposes and does not constituted as legal advice. All information on every page of the website does NOT suggest or claim that the attorney has a specialization in any area of legal practice or certification. Attorney not certified by the Texas Board of Legal Specializations.
