Statistically speaking, the highest fatal car accident rates belong to teenage drivers. The risk is greatest for those from 16 to 19 years old, and their fatal accident rate is higher than any other age group in the United States.
This becomes especially clear over the summer months, when the total number of fatal teenage car accidents also climbs. Largely due to the fact that teenagers have more free time when they are not in school over the summer, they tend to get into more accidents.
This does not mean that teenagers cause the most fatal accidents overall. They are, after all, a relatively small age group. But because they have the highest rate, it shows that there is a significant risk for them and all other drivers who share the road with them.
Why is the accident rate so high?
There are many contributing factors, such as lack of seat belt use, distracted driving, aggressive driving and even impaired driving. Every accident is unique.
But one underlying factor that contributes to the high accident rate is that these young drivers are just inexperienced. It leads to mistakes they would not make otherwise.
For example, an experienced adult driver may understand when to slow down in certain weather conditions or how to consistently maintain a safe following distance. An inexperienced teenager, on the other hand, may accidentally tailgate or fail to slow down when it would be safer to do so. They are not trying to drive poorly, but they are simply making mistakes because they do not have that much experience behind the wheel.
Seeking compensation after a fatal crash
Have you lost a loved one in a car accident that another driver caused? You may be able to seek compensation through a wrongful death case, so be sure you understand all of your options.