There are a number of hazards that teens face when getting into the car. Some are obvious, such as the danger that texting while driving can present. But not all obstacles are as readily apparent.
A new study by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and State Farm insurance has found that teenagers with friends riding in the car with them face a much greater risk of getting into an auto accident. Just one friend in the car can double the likelihood of being in a fatal crash, while the addition of three or more teenagers raises the risk more than four times what it would be with just a single occupant.
These aren’t the only startling findings of the study. Just 10% of teenagers admitted that they perceived other teenagers in the car as a potential danger. Of the teens involved in an accident who responded to the study, though, 71% of males and 47% of females indicated that their passengers’ distractions contributed to the crash.
As a car accident lawyer in Long Beach, I understand that the first thing teens want to do when they get their license is hop around town with their friends in tow. But it’s my opinion as a Long Beach personal injury lawyer that both parents and teens need to understand the risks of their actions when they get behind the wheel of a car.
