It may not come as a surprise to most Louisiana parents that teenagers do not possess the same cognitive abilities as a person in their twenties or thirties, much less a middle-aged person. They also are more likely to give in to impulses and get distracted faster. This is probably why parents are hesitant to hand over the car keys to their newly licensed drivers and why it is imperative to remind the newly minted drivers of their obligations on the roads.
Unfortunately, teenagers are likely to be in car crashes. The risk of a crash is the highest for a driver between the ages of 16 and 19. In reality, teen drivers between these ages are almost three times as likely than their counterparts over the age of 20 to be involved in a fatal car crash.
Why are teen drivers more likely to be involved in a crash? Their lack of experience on the road makes them more likely to underestimate a dangerous situation or leave them unable to recognize a hazardous situation. They are more likely to speed and not leave enough room between the vehicles surrounding them. They are also more likely to get behind the wheel with someone who was drinking. This is why it is important for parents to remind their children of traffic laws and the importance of obeying them.
Teen drivers are not on the roadways alone. Other drivers who assume everyone on the road is going to follow traffic laws surround these drivers. When a teen driver neglects to do so, they can cause a completely preventable accident that can change the lives of everyone involved. With unexpected car accidents come repercussions in the form of injuries and emotional, physical and financial costs and a personal injury lawsuit may be one way to recoup those costs.
