Teenagers and West Palm Beach Car Accidents, Part 1: Is Your Teen At Risk?

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for Florida teenagers. In fact, Florida car accidents account for more than two-thirds of teen deaths. Every day, an average of eight American teens die in traffic accidents. Per mile driven, teenage drivers age 16 to 19 are four times more likely to be involved in a Florida car accident than an older driver. Why do teenagers have such a high risk of becoming Florida accident victims?

1. Lack of experience. Teens do not have the driving experience to recognize and react to hazardous situations.

2. Impatience. Teens, especially male teens, are more likely than adults to speed and to tailgate. According to National Highway Transportation Safety Administration (NHTSA) statistics for 2005, more than one-third of male teen drivers involved in fatal crashes were speeding at the time of the crash.

3. Alcohol use. At all BAC levels, teens are more likely to be involved in a drunk driving car crash than an older adult. In 2008, more than one-quarter of male teen drivers who are involved in fatal car crashes had a BAC of 0.08 g/dl or higher. In a 2007 survey, 30 percent of teens admitted to riding with a driver who had been drinking in the month before the survey.

4. Low rates of seatbelt use. Teens have the lowest rate of seat belt use among all age groups.

5. Distraction. Texting, cell phone use, even friends in the car can be distracting to a new driver. In fact, according to AAA, fatal car crash rates for 16 to 19 year olds increase by 500 percent when the driver has two or more teen passengers.

There is nothing more tragic for a parent than losing a child to a Florida car accident. The good news is that all teen driving accidents are preventable. To learn more, read our article, "Teenagers and West Palm Beach Car Accidents, Part 2: Preventing Teen Driving Accidents."

Craig Goldenfarb, a motor vehicle accident attorney in West Palm Beach, helps families who have lost a loved on to a Florida car crash. If your child has been seriously injured or killed in a West Palm Beach traffic accident, contact the Law Offices of Craig Goldenfarb at 800-GOLD-LAW and ask to schedule a free legal consultation with a motor vehicle accident attorney in West Palm Beach.

Need help getting a fair insurance settlement? Call for a free consultation or download a free copy Craig Goldenfarb's book, What the Insurance Companies Don't Want You to Know.