A Philadelphia Car Accident Attorney Explains Why Teen Drivers Face An Increased Accident Risk In The Summer Months

The summer months bring fun road trips and adventures to take part in. However, those same summer months provide ample opportunity for car accidents. In particular, teen drivers face an increased risk of being involved in these accidents. As teens take to the streets, the consequences of a motor vehicle accident must be considered. If you are a teenager, parent of a teen, or share the road with teenagers (everybody else), the information in this blog post from Philadelphia car accident attorney, Anthony C. Gagliano, III, Esquire, P.C., is important to consider. Whether your summer plans include road trips, museum visits, or just heading to the grocery store, it is critical that you are aware of the risks presented by summer driving. 

What Makes The Summer Months More Dangerous For Teen Drivers?

Teenagers who get behind the wheel in the summer months may be doing so for the first time. The structure of the school day is nonexistent for many teens in the summer. With mom and dad at work and newfound freedom, teens take advantage (and then some) of the ability to explore the world around them. That freedom carries with it responsibilities that these newly minted drivers may not be ready for. 

The rules of the road are well-known to more experienced drivers. Seeing how people operate their vehicles over the course of time is a key advantage that older drivers have over teen drivers. A teen driver cannot anticipate what may happen on the road as opposed to their older brother or parent. What this does is create a circumstance where the drivers around a teen motorist are at a greater risk of being injured in an accident with that teen driver. 

Late nights, questionable decision-making, and inexperience behind the wheel. This is a perfect recipe for car accidents. If you have been injured by a teen driver, or if your teen driver has been injured, please contact a Philadelphia car accident attorney. Our team of experienced legal professionals offers free consultations six days a week. 

What Kind Of Traffic Violations Do Teens Most Commonly Accrue? 

With so many rules of the road to know and implement, it is no wonder that teens end up in a large number of summer car accidents. Even if a teen understands these driving rules and implements them well, that does not mean that he or she will avoid accidents all summer. Driving on congested roads, highways, and interstates presents a range of challenges for drivers both young and old. When a law enforcement officer pulls over a teen driver, it is not because he or she wants to ruin the teen’s day. Rather, pulling over a teen driver is a good way to reorient the driver towards better driving practices.

At the top of the most frequently cited roadway violation for teens is speeding. It is easy enough for anyone to drive over the posted speed limit. Teens have questionable decision-making even on their best days. Couple the newness of driving with the decision-making capacity of a teen, and you have a recipe for trouble on the roads. 

When teens get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle, it is difficult to ignore their cell phone. For teens, the cell phone is their lifeline to friends, entertainment, and their social lives in general. We all know the risks presented by looking at a cell phone while attempting to drive. Teens know these risks, too, but may lack the self-control to keep their phone put away. What this leaves us with is a situation where a distracted driving ticket may result. 

What Should Teen Drivers Be Sure To Leave The House With Each Day?

If you are the parent of a teen driver, is there anything you can do to help your child avoid being injured or causing other motorists to be injured? Absolutely, yes. First, talk to your teen driver about the importance of taking seriously the responsibility of operating a motor vehicle. When your teen understands how seriously you take driving, then it is much more likely that he or she will approach driving with the same spirit of responsibility. 

In addition to leaving the house with an understanding of the responsibility of driving, your teen should have their driver’s license, proof of insurance, and vehicle registration. Ensure that your child has these items so that they are ready if law enforcement or another individual needs them after an accident has occurred. 

Suppose your teen is injured while driving in the summer months. You gave him permission to take a short ride to visit friends. Unfortunately, his first foray on the open road without a parent results in him being involved in a car accident. It seems that the driver behind your son did not appreciate the way he was stopping for a prolonged period at each stop sign he encountered. The end result of this scenario is that your son was rear-ended and suffered a back injury. 

Where can you turn for help if you have been injured by a teen driver? Or, what next steps can you take if you have been injured by the negligent driver of a teen?

A Philadelphia Car Accident Attorney Knows How To Help People Injured In Car Accidents

When you need help after a car accident, look no further than Anthony C. Gagliano, III, Esquire, P.C. We fight for the rights of our clients inside and outside the courtroom. Don’t despair after being injured in a car accident. Allow an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney to stand up with you against an at-fault driver. A free consultation is just a phone call away.