According to the New York State Department of Health, motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of unintentional deaths among New York teens. What’s worse, the number of fatal crashes is on the rise. In 2022, 45,000 crashes in the state involved young drivers, and 124 drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 were killed–the highest numbers we’ve seen since 2013.
What is the reason for this? How can we prevent it?
I’ll answer these questions below, and discuss how a New York car accident attorney at Buttafuoco & Associates may be able to help if your teen is injured in an accident. If you or a loved one has been involved in an accident involving a young driver, you may have a case. Call 1-800-NOW-HURT for a free review.
Newburgh Teen Killed in Two-Car Accident
If you are from the Orange County New York area, you may remember the death of 15-year-old Alana Tadry that rocked the community in November of 2012. Tadry was a passenger in a friend’s Audi driving on Route 32 in Newburgh at night when they were involved in a horrific two-car crash. When a car collided with the vehicle Tadry was in, it split the car in half. Her body was thrown 25 feet into the woods and she died instantly from the impact. A second passenger, Christopher Giamnarino, 19, sustained serious injuries requiring surgery.
In this case, Tadry had nothing to do with the accident: she was in the passenger seat of a friend’s car; her friend was simply trying to pass another vehicle when he was struck by another driver. However, statistics show that teens are far more likely to suffer injuries in any crash than older drivers. (I’ll talk more about this later in the blog.)
In a more recent example, in March of 2023 16-year-old driver Malik Smith and four young passengers in his vehicle were killed when he veered off a New York parkway. Reports suggest that he may have fallen asleep at the wheel or was distracted at the time of the crash.
These are just two recent examples, but when we look at the bigger picture, we see a pattern. 10 drivers are killed each and every day in crashes involving teen drivers, and as I mentioned, the numbers have gotten worse in recent years.
Why Are Teen Drivers So Susceptible to Accidents?
Some teens are more at risk of getting in a serious accident than others. According to the New York State Health Department, those who have recently received licenses and male drivers are most at risk. Teen passengers between the ages of 16 and 20 are also more likely to be seriously injured or killed if they are in the car with another teen driver. Child passengers are twice as likely to be injured or killed when riding with a teen.
A variety of factors contribute to the severity of injuries in these crashes. Sometimes teens themselves are at fault. Statistics show that teen drivers traveling at unsafe speeds is the top cause of accidents among teens, followed by driver inexperience, failure to yield, and driver distraction. Inexperienced drivers are also less likely to see potentially hazardous situations as dangerous and react accordingly. Finally, young drivers are more likely to fall asleep at the wheel.
Some of the reasons teens sustain severe injuries, however, are beyond their control. Younger bodies are generally more vulnerable to injury: if not restrained by a seat belt, they are four times more likely to receive traumatic brain injuries or be ejected from a vehicle than an adult person. In the case of an impaired driving situation, teens are five times more likely to receive fatal or serious injuries than adults. They are also more vulnerable to accidents involving distracted driving.
Can These Accidents be Prevented?
While there will always be new teen drivers who lack experience, there are many things parents can do to reduce the likelihood that their child will be involved in an accident. Talking to teens about safe driving (in particular the dangers of distracted driving) is essential. Parents should also set good examples by buckling up, traveling at safe speeds, and not texting or using a cell phone while driving.
New York also has Graduated Drivers Licensing (GDL) Laws that place certain restrictions on drivers under 18 years old as they learn, reducing their risk of being involved in dangerous situations. Under these laws, the number of passengers allowed in a vehicle operated by someone with a junior license is also limited.
You might also consider setting ground rules and consequences with your teen driver completing a parent-teen driving contract, such as this one.
What if my Teen is in a Serious Accident?
If your teen sustains injuries in an accident, working with a New York car accident attorney can often be helpful. Teen injuries are often more severe than those suffered by older drivers, and can result in higher medical bills, extended recovery times, and significant expenses to the family, not to mention pain and suffering on the part of the victim.
If you find yourself in this situation, an attorney at Buttafuoco & Associates can apprise you of your rights, help you negotiate with insurers to get damages covered, and discuss the possibility of a wrongful death or other lawsuit when appropriate.
Don’t hesitate to get in touch for a free consultation today.
Call 1-800-NOW-HURT.