In another article posted on our law firm’s website this month, the risks associated with teenaged drivers were discussed. Three accidents that have occurred over the past several months illustrate the devastating effects of inexperienced and inattentive teenaged drivers and the need for increased focus on this issue.
In a recent motor vehicle accident in Warren County, Mississippi, six teenagers were injured and one teenager was killed. It happened on October 15, 2013, just after 9:00 p.m. A Toyota Corolla was being driven by a 16-year old who lost control of vehicle and crashed into a tree. The six passengers in the vehicle included a 15-year old, three 14-year olds, and two 13-year olds. Two of the teenagers needed to be airlifted to the University of Mississippi Medical center. One of the 14-year old passengers died from the injuries he sustained in the accident.
In a shockingly similar story, and just several days earlier, on October 12, 2013, seven teenagers were injured in an accident in Olympia, Washington, when a motor vehicle driven by a 16-year old crashed into a pillar. Fortunately, in this accident, no one lost his or her life, though the force of the collision actually caused the engine to separate from the car. There were six passengers in the car. Three of the passengers were 17-year olds, one of the passengers was a 16-year old, and two of the passengers were 15-year olds. Authorities investigating that accident indicated it was caused by driver inattention.
In a terrible tragedy in Laveen, Arizona, near Phoenix, earlier this year, three children—ages 11, 5, and 4–were killed in an accident involving a teenaged driver. There were seven passengers in the car at the time of the accident, ranging in age from three to sixteen. All seven of the passengers were siblings. The driver was transporting all of his siblings to school. Several of the children were ejected from the minivan after it crossed collided head-on with another vehicle and then rolled over. Police had to search nearby brush and bushes to locate all of the passengers. The four siblings who managed to survive the accident suffered severe injuries. No one in the minivan was wearing a seatbelt. Authorities indicated that the cause of the accident was inexperience. Authorities also indicated that the driver may have been impaired by drugs or alcohol at the time of the accident. The driver of the vehicle was unlicensed—he had only a learner’s permit. The driver of the vehicle that the minivan collided with also died. He was 31 years old.
The United States’ National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (“NHTSA”) regularly publishes a report addressing, among other things, strategies to reduce accidents involving teenaged drivers. One of those strategies includes restrictions on the number of passengers in the motor vehicle. Other strategies include the use of safety belts. NHTSA also recommends that parents have early and frequent discussions with teenaged drivers about safety issues and set restrictions on things such as the use of cell phone and number of passengers in the car at any one time.
Barrett Law, PLLC has been representing the rights of individuals injured in motor vehicle accidents for decades. If you or someone you love has been injured as a resulting of a motor vehicle accident and a teenaged driver was at fault, we understand how difficult the situation can be for all individuals involved. Nevertheless, you have been injured and you need to protect your rights and make sure you receive the compensation you deserve. We can help you receive that compensation. Please contact our firm today at (800) 707-9577 to schedule an initial, no-cost consultation.