High cost of teen car accidents no comparison to personal injury, wrongful death

Summertime and school vacation mean that more and more teens will be out on the roads, increasing the risk for car accidents among young people.  

Car accidents involving 15- to 17-year-olds in the United States cost an estimated $34 billion in 2006 alone, according to a recent report by AAA. 

But the astronomical cost of a teen accident and the resulting rise in the parents’ insurance premium is worthless compared to the priceless lives that teen car accidents can take.

According the Centers for Disease Control, car accidents are the leading cause of death among U.S. teens, and the risk for car accidents is higher for 16- to 19-year-olds than any other age group. In 2006 alone, drivers between the ages of 15 and 17 were responsible for car accidents that caused personal injury to 406,427 people and 2,541 wrongful deaths.

Our Toledo, Ohio personal injury attorneys see the devastating effects that teen car accidents can have on a family, and urge all drivers, regardless of age, to be careful while on the roads. If you have a teen driver, draw up a contract with them, outlining clear-cut rules such as no speeding, no loud music, and a limited number of passengers. Discuss choices and consequences before your teen gets behind the wheel of a car, in order to potentially save their life and the lives of others.