Teenagers and Utah Car Accidents
School is out and summer is here, which means Utah will see an increase in teenage commuters for a few months. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that the 101 days between Memorial Day and Labor Day are the most deadly for teenager drivers. The rate of teenage fatalities in Utah traffic accidents continually increases throughout the summer months, peaking in July and August. In the article entitled “Summer Deadly For Teen Drivers,” ABC4 News reports on some important safety guidelines from AAA for teenage drivers. Here are just a few of the important tips to pass on to your teenage children:
• Buckle up! Make sure you and your passengers wear safety belts. Roughly two-thirds of teenagers killed in traffic accidents were not wearing their seatbelts. Your chances of survival are almost doubled when wearing a safety belt.
• Keep your friends under control. It’s always fun to have your friends in the car with you, but be sure everyone stays calm. A 17-year-old driver’s risk of a traffic crash increases by 50% when he/she adds just one other teen passenger to the vehicle. Don’t let your friends become too rowdy and distract you from driving safely.
• Turn off your cell phone! Chances are, whatever you need to tell your friend over the phone can wait until your car is parked. Cell phones are a major distraction and greatly increase your chances of an accident. To avoid the temptation of calling a friend, make it a habit of turning off your phone before you get behind the wheel. Text messaging is illegal in the state of Utah and decreases your reaction time by 34%, which is double the reduced reaction time of a drunk driver. Do not attempt to text message and drive.
• Avoid driving at night. Research and statistics show that teenagers are twice as likely to be involved in a Utah car accident between the hours of 9 p.m. and 6 a.m. Do not drive at night until you have more experience operating a vehicle.
Some accidents are impossible to avoid, no matter how cautiously you or your teenager drives. Unfortunately, you can never fully protect yourself or a loved one from the negligence of other motorists. The consequences of a Utah traffic accident can be emotionally and physically devastating. Compounding these burdens with the legal and insurance complications is often overwhelming. This is why Kenneth Christensen, founder of the Christensen Law Firm, wrote the Utah accident book “Seven Biggest Mistakes That Can Wreck Your Utah Accident Case.” This helpful book guides Utah accident victims through the complicated legal and insurance issues following a traffic accident. It provides detailed information on the legal process of an accident claim, how to deal with insurance adjustors, and common mistakes to avoid in your accident case. To request your FREE copy of the UT accident book, visit www.utahaccidentbook.com or call the expert Utah injury lawyers of the Christensen Law Firm at 801.506.0800.
