Summer is the worst time when it comes to car accidents involving teen drivers, both in Connecticut and elsewhere, and the reasons are obvious. School is out, more teens are on the road and there are more opportunities for becoming impaired at parties. It’s not surprising, then, that safety experts call the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day the “100 deadliest days.”
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety has said that between 2008 and 2018, there were more than 8,300 fatalities stemming from teen driving crashes nationwide during the 100 deadliest days. This amounts to a rate of more than seven deaths for each day of summer in that 11-year period.
Parents should emphasize safety with their teens before the approach of the 100 deadliest days. It all starts with explaining the dangers of speeding, drowsy driving, phone use behind the wheel and neglecting to wear a seat belt. They could put some driving rules in place and even sign their teens up for a driver education program.
The dangers that teen drivers pose is significant. In a Traffic Safety Culture Index, 72% of 16- to 18-year-old respondents admitted to negligent driving in the past 30 days. One in four drove drowsy, 32% ran red lights and 40% exceeded the speed limit on the freeway by 15 miles per hour.
When motor vehicle crashes arise because one driver did not look out for the safety of others, then those who were injured can be entitled to compensatory damages. Those damages can be both economic and non-economic, such as lost wages, medical expenses and pain and suffering. To see if they can file a claim against the responsible driver’s insurance company, victims may want to speak with a lawyer. An attorney may even tackle all negotiations for a settlement.