According to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, teen drivers are 15% more likely to get in a fatal car crash during the summer: in particular, in the 100 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. The reason is that teens, who are inexperienced to begin with, spend more time on the road during this season. Kentucky residents can imagine how events like the Fourth of July celebrations also have a role to play in more drivers, and potentially inebriated drivers, being on the road.
To keep teen drivers safe on the road during the summer as well as the rest of the year, AAA encourages parents to set up safe practices with their teens. Together, parents and teens should ensure that the vehicle is properly maintained. It’s dangerous to go out with bad brakes, bald tires or under-inflated tires. Teens should have their routes planned out beforehand. Parents and teens should know each other’s phone numbers.
Some education may be in order, too. Parents could warn against drowsy driving, not to mention drunk and drugged driving. They should be especially strict on distracted driving, especially no calling or texting. Since passengers can easily distract teens, it’s best to limit their number. Teenagers should be cautious at night when visibility is obscured and in construction zones where they might meet the unexpected.
Those who are injured at the hands of a negligent driver, regardless of age, may be eligible for compensation. All they have to do is file a personal injury claim against that driver’s auto insurance company. With the help of a motor vehicle accident attorney, they may gather sufficient evidence to prove negligence. It might be anything from phone records to physical evidence at the crash site. The attorney may be able to negotiate for a settlement out of court, litigating only if necessary.