Parents know they must accept the risk of giving their teen driver the keys to the family car, but it is one that frequently fills them with worry and anxiety. Because motor vehicle accidents are the second most common cause of death for American teenagers, parents' concerns are not without merit. Auto accident attorneys can handle your teen's case, but you don't want it to come to that! If you're the parent of a teen driver, below are important facts and tips that you need to know.

Risk-Prone Teens

Teenage car accidents mostly include younger teenagers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the collision rate per mile driven is almost 1.5 times higher for 16-year-old drivers than for drivers between the ages of 18 and 19. Teens that have a high risk of crashes include:

• Males: Male adolescent drivers aged 16 to 19 experienced more motor vehicle deaths in 2019 than female teen drivers of the same age, according to the CDC.
• Teens Without Supervision: Teen drivers who are not under adult supervision have a higher risk of collision when they have young passengers. Each extra teen or young adult traveler increases the risk.
• Newly Licensed Teens: The danger of crashes increases during the initial months of licensing. According to data from the 2016–2017 National Household Travel Survey, 16–year–old drivers experience crashes at a rate per mile traveled that is around 1.5 times higher than that of 18 to 19–year–old drivers.

Risk Factors

Common risk factors for teen auto crashes include:

• Inexperience: Teenage drivers are more prone than more experienced drivers to underestimate or be unable to detect unsafe circumstances. Teenagers are also more likely than adults to make crucial judgment mistakes that may result in catastrophic collisions.
• Drunk Driving: Any quantity of alcohol consumed before driving increases the chance of a collision, especially for teen drivers. Even at blood alcohol concentrations (BAC) below the adult legal limit, teen drivers are substantially more likely than older drivers to be involved in collisions.
• Distracted Driving: All drivers are severely impacted by distractions, but young, inexperienced drivers are at a higher risk. For example, teen drivers are much more likely to be distracted by phone use while driving.
• Speeding: Teen drivers are more inclined than older drivers to speed and give themselves smaller headroom (the distance from one vehicle to the next). This contributes to an increased prevalence of auto crashes amongst teen drivers.

To prevent auto crashes from happening, teen drivers are advised to avoid drunk and distracted driving. Seat belts should always be used, and driving should be avoided while angry or tired. If your teenager is involved in an auto crash, auto accident attorneys can help navigate the aftermath. Reach out to us to get excellent representation from experienced auto accident attorneys.