Memorial Day to Labor Day is the deadliest time of year for teen drivers in Tennessee and across the nation, according to WSMV. Known as the “100 Deadliest Days” for teen drivers, the Tennessee Highway Patrol and AAA both report a 14 percent increase in crashes involving teen drivers in the summer compared to the rest of the year.
Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens, and from 2013-2017, AAA reports more than 1,900 teen drivers were killed in crashes. While that number is worrisome, consider that within that same timeframe 1,583 passengers of teen drivers, 1,795 other drivers, and 529 pedestrians were killed in crashes involving cars being driven by teens.
Sadly, a 28-year-old Metro Police officer was tragically killed in Nashville on July 4, 2019 when a 17-year-old driver who was fleeing from police crashed into Officer John Anderson’s cruiser and caused it to slam into a nearby light pole and catch fire. The driver’s passenger was also critically injured, putting into focus just how dangerous the Tennessee roadways can be for everyone during the summer months, when more teens are on the road.
Why are teens more susceptible to crashes in the summer?
With school out, there are simply more teens out driving in the summer months. Teens travel more when the weather is warm, whether it’s taking a trip to the beach or visiting a friend’s house for a barbeque.
While AAA Tennessee’s Megan Cooper attributes some of the spike in teen crashes to driver inexperience, another big reason for teenagers to get into car accidents is due to them driving more often with other teens as their passengers.
As AAA reports, 60 percent of teen crashes involve distraction and 15 percent of all teen driver car accidents occur when the driver’s attention is being pulled away from the road by one of their teenage passengers.
To help reduce the risk of a teen getting into a crash:
Limit their number of passengers
Avoid driving between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m., when 1/3 of deadly crashes occur
Be vigilant about distracted driving, especially including use of a cellphone while driving
Discourage speeding and other forms of reckless driving
Injured in a crash? Let a Nashville car accident lawyer deliver justice
Even though Memorial Day and the Fourth of July holidays are behind us, there’s still plenty of time between now and Labor Day, meaning the risk of getting into a car accident with a teen driver is still higher than average.
If you or a loved one were injured in a car wreck caused by a teen driver ─ or any other driver ─ a Nashville car accident lawyer can help you hold them accountable and recover compensation for your damages.
Nashville personal injury attorney Kim Thompson has more than 25 years of experience helping injured crash victims seek the justice and financial compensation they deserve. Providing consistent and reliable representation to crash victims, Attorney Thompson’s background includes working more than 15 years as an insurance claims adjuster and insurance claims supervisor, giving him valuable experience that he can tap into to help his clients obtain maximum compensation.
If you’ve been injured in a car accident due to someone else’s negligence, get Nashville’s hardest-working personal injury team in your corner right away. Contact Thompson Law today for a free consultation.