AAA found a strong correlation between number of teen passengers. and the risk of teen drivers killed in car accidents. A new study shows the more young people in a car driven by a 16 or 17-year-old without adult supervision, the more likely that combination could prove lethal. Without an adult in the car AAA says the chances a 16 or 17 year old driver being killed in a car accident increases with each additional passenger under 21.

The percentage increases 44% with one young passenger, it more than doubles with two and quadruples with three or more. The same study also found that a teen driver carrying at least one passenger, over the age of 35, reduces that same deadly chance by 62% and overall police-reported crashes by 46%.

Additionally, when a driver panics, overreacts or makes a serious mistake, catastrophic injuries can result in a heartbeat. Whether that action leads to an immediate confession of fault or the legal complexities of a hit-and-run accident claim, the personal injury victim or wrongful death survivor deserves compensation for the harm caused by the driver’s negligence.

Another important study is from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) which looks at accidents caused by motorists who make the most basic and serious driving error: they hit the gas pedal rather than the brakes at a critical moment. Motor vehicle accident researchers examined the driver and vehicle characteristics of pedal application errors, as well as the circumstance under which they most frequently occur.

The study was based on national crash causation surveys, media reports and accident case studies, among other data. The authors concluded that across all types of data, one finding was consistent: female drivers were involved in about two-thirds of gas pedal misapplication crashes, even though men have a higher representation rate (60 percent) in overall car and truck accidents. Other significant findings:

• • Driver inattention was the most likely contributing factor, including use of cell phones, looking away from the roadway, talking to passengers and reaching for objects
  • Higher driver age was strongly associated with mistakes that involved the accuracy of right foot movements
  • In one of five gas pedal accidents, the driver had been startled by circumstances, and the effect of panicked reactions was worst in younger drivers
  • The majority of these accidents occur in parking lots, driveways and parking garages

If you or a loved one was injured during an accident, we have the experience to win your case and obtain compensation of your pain, suffering, lost wages, unpaid medical bills and wrongful death. Contact the Levensten Law Firm for a full explanation of your rights.