Parents in California should ensure that their teens who have been newly licensed are well aware of the dangers of negligent and reckless driving. If parents have not talked with their teen about road safety, there’s no better time for this than the start of summer. School is out, and teens are usually out on the road more, which has always meant a rise in car crashes.
Safety experts speak of a period called the 100 deadliest days, which spans from Memorial Day to Labor Day. There are more fatalities from teen driving crashes during this time than during the school year. From 2008 to 2018, for example, the number of such fatalities came to more than 8,300 during the 100 deadliest days. That’s over seven deaths per summer day.
Parents should try to target the most common forms of negligence like speeding. Seventy-two percent of drivers aged 16 to 18 who were surveyed in AAA’s Traffic Safety Culture Index admitted to unsafe driving. Of these, 47% said they exceeded the speed limit by 10 miles in a residential area, and 40% exceeded it by 15 miles on the freeway. Others negligent actions included texting and driving, admitted to by 35% of those surveyed, and red-light running, 32%. In addition to talking about the dangers, parents should set up practice driving sessions where they coach their teen in-vehicle.
When negligent or reckless teens are to blame for a crash, those who incurred some physical harm may be able to pursue a personal injury case. If successful, victims might be compensated for their medical expenses, lost wages, pain and suffering and vehicle repair costs. Insurers can be aggressive in fighting claims, so victims may want a lawyer to handle the negotiations and for the lawyer’s team of investigators and other third parties to gather evidence.
