New research indicates that New Jersey teenagers who drive with teen passengers may be at increased risk of being involved in a fatal car crash. The study, which was done by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety, indicates that when teens drove with other teens in their vehicles, the risk of fatality increased by 51 percent.
The study also showed that when a teenage driver had a passenger who was age 35 or older, the risk of fatality decreased by 8 percent. This indicates that teenagers who receive driving instructions and sufficient supervised practice can decrease fatal accident risks.
In 2016, approximately 1 million crashes involving teenage drivers were reported. More than 3,200 people died as a result of these accidents. When teenagers drove with teen passengers, the fatal accident risk jumped by 56 percent for other road users. This shows how distracting other passengers can be in a vehicle. The AAA Foundation is recommending that teenage drivers log at least 100 hours behind the wheel with a licensed parent before driving on their own.
Motor vehicle accidents that involve a teenage driver can cause serious life-threatening injuries, lengthy hospital stays, loss of income and death. These injuries can also result in costly medical bills for the victims involved in the accident. Many accidents occur when drivers are driving under the influence or distracted by cell phones. A lawyer may be able to prove that a driver acted negligently, which would make him or her responsible for the damages. Ultimately, an attorney could use evidence of negligence to negotiate for a higher settlement.
