While it is of course possible for drivers of all ages to be involved in motor vehicle accidents, the demographic that likely comes to mind first when thinking about these incidents is teenagers. There is good reason for thinking this way since the federal Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that crashes are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States.
The state of New Jersey is not immune to this. According to the consumer safety administrator for NJM Insurances, when it comes to driver death, the rate is four times higher for those between the ages of 16 and 19, than drivers who are between the ages of 25 and 69.
Teen driving safety programs
In an effort to reduce the number of these incidents that occur, New Jersey has instituted various programs focused on teen driving safety. One for them is Graduated Driver Licensing. Among other things, the law in New Jersey limits the number of teenage passengers who can be in the vehicle to one, and prescribes the times these young drivers can be behind the wheel of a vehicle.
Another program is Share the Keys, which targets not only teen drivers but their parents as well. Between the years of 2010 and 2014, the number of crashes involving drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 dropped by 13,603.
Passenger deaths
Despite these programs, accidents caused by teen drivers still occur, and the outcomes can be devastating, including the death of not only the driver, but passengers as well. The CDC reports two-thirds of the passengers, who are teens and die in crashes, do so when another teen is behind the wheel.
While teen driving safety programs in New Jersey appear to be successfully reducing the number of fatal crashes involving teen drivers, they sadly still do occur. Regardless of the age of the driver who caused the collision, it is possible those who were injured or lost a loved one could take legal action. A personal injury lawyer can help determine whether this course of action makes sense.