Parents across Florida are concerned about the safety of their teens on the road, and this concern usually reaches its peak during the summer when school is out. They should know that there is a period when the number of deaths arising from car crashes with teens tends to go up. It spans from Memorial Day to Labor Day, and experts call it the “100 deadliest days.”
There were more than 8,300 teen driving crash fatalities during the 100 deadliest days from 2008 to 2018. This comes to an average of over seven deaths per summer day in that 11-year period. Drivers aged 16 to 17 are, for every mile driven, three times more likely to be in a fatal crash than adult drivers are.
The 100 deadliest days can provide a good opportunity for parents to talk to their teen about unsafe driving. They could consult the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety for data on the most common negligent actions. AAA’s Traffic Safety Culture Index found that among those respondents aged 16 to 18 who were unsafe drivers in the past 30 days, 87% broke the speed limit: 47% in a residential area and 40% on the freeway. Other prominent behaviors included texting, 35%, red light running, 32%, and aggressive driving, 31%.
When motor vehicle crashes are the result of negligent or reckless actions on the part of teen drivers, those who were injured and whose personal injury protection will not cover all the losses may want to speak with a lawyer. The lawyer may be able to evaluate the case and find that victims could file a third-party insurance claim. If retained, the lawyer may hire investigators and other experts to build up the case before negotiations for a settlement begin.