Residents of Connecticut may be wondering if there is a time of the year when teen drivers are at a particularly high risk for a car crash. That time happens to be the summer since teens, being on summer vacation, are out on the road more, and more drivers are liable to become impaired after parties, such as those during the Fourth of July celebrations.
To be more specific, the 100 days between Memorial Day, which marks the unofficial start of summer, and Labor Day are considered the worst of the whole year for teen drivers. This is according to the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety. AAA states that the risk for a fatal car crash involving a teen driver goes up 15%, on average, during this period.
Safe driving practices, and parents who enforce them, play a crucial role in reversing this trend. Teens must avoid all the obvious dangers like impaired driving, drowsy driving and distracted driving. Besides calling and texting, talking with passengers can constitute a distraction, so teens are advised to limit how many passengers they carry.
Teens should maintain their vehicles, periodically checking tire pressure and the condition of brakes and other components. Buckling their seat belts is required by law. In addition, since the nighttime obscures visibility, teens should minimize the time they spend driving then.
There are any number of ways that drivers can be negligent behind the wheel, and when negligence results in a car accident, those who are injured may be eligible for compensation. In this state, a victim can qualify if they are deemed 51% or less at fault. Still, the plaintiff may face stiff opposition from the auto insurance company, so it may be a good idea to hire an attorney. An attorney may speak on victims’ behalf at the negotiation table.
