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Distracted teen drivers pose a danger on the road

On Behalf of | Jun 10, 2016 | Car Accidents

New Jersey residents know all too well how dangerous the summer season can be when it comes to automobile accidents. Those who are injured in collisions often incur high medical expenses.

During the summer season, more people are on the roadways as they travel to vacation spots, and an increased number of people are attending parties where alcohol may be involved. It can be especially dangerous for teen drivers. More of them are behind the wheel during the summertime compared ot other times of the year, and AAA refers to the period between Memorial Day and the start of the new school year as the “100 deadliest days” for just that reason. It is estimated that around 1,000 people will die in car accidents involving a teen driver during this period, as has been the case for the past five years.

A major cause of these accidents is distracted driving. Texting and checking social media sites while driving can increase the likelihood of a fatal car accident as teens take their eyes off of the road for even brief instances. According to a University of Iowa study, nearly 60 percent of the teen crashes that researchers reviewed over a period of nearly eight years involved a driver distraction. In addition to cellphone use, distractions included talking to others in the car.

The surviving family members of a victim of a fatal car accident will often face significant financial consequences in addition to their grief. Funeral and burial expenses have to be met, and the contributions of the decedent to the family budget will have to be somehow replaced. When the accident was caused by the negligence of another driver, an attorney can often assist the survivors in seeking compensation for some of those losses.

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