It can come as no surprise that the age group that causes the most car accidents in Dallas, Texas, are the newest drivers; teenage drivers. The age range between 16 and 19 is reported to be three times more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident than other drivers over the age of 20. In 2020, there were a total of 35,294 crashes just in Dallas*. The entire state of Texas reported having 3,896 car accidents that led to deaths. Out of those 3,896, 215 of them were teenage drivers.
Causes of Teenage Dallas Car Accidents
- Driver Inexperience
- Speeding
- Male Teen Drivers
- Teenage Passengers
- Driving at Night
- Distracted Driving
- Alcohol-Impaired Driving
- Not Using a Seat Belt
Driving courses are offered through Dallas schools and through off-site companies to help aid in driver inexperience for teenage drivers. Expertise has a great list of the top 11 driving schools in Dallas. These driving courses will help teach teens the road rules and take the necessary steps to become safer drivers. However, these courses are not required when getting a learner’s license.
The Texas Department of Transportation reports that male teen drivers are always more likely to get into fatal car accidents than female teen drivers. Out of the 215 fatal car accidents, 153 of them were male teen drivers and passengers in the numbers mentioned before. Male teen drivers are more likely to be found speeding and not using a seat belt when compared to female teen drivers as well.
Reducing Teenage Dallas Car Accidents
The Texas Department of Public Safety has implemented a Graduated Drivers License program for new teen drivers. The purpose of this program is to allow new drivers to improve their driving abilities in a low-risk environment. Ultimately, this will also reduce the number of car accidents caused by teenage drivers. There are two phases of this program:
Phase 1: Obtaining a Learner’s License or Minor Restricted Driver’s License
- The teen driver must hold this license for at least six months or until age 18, whichever comes first.
- If the learner’s license becomes suspended during the six months, the time period will increase by the number of days from the suspension.
Phase 2: Obtaining a Provisional License
- The teen receives this provisional license after the six months have passed.
- The provisional license has strict guidelines the teenage driver has to follow.
- They cannot drive with more than one passenger under the age of 21 and not a family member.
- They cannot drive between midnight, and 5 am unless the teen is heading to work, school, school, or school function or has an emergency.
- They cannot use any wireless communication devices, including hands-free functions in cars, until the age of 21.
What if You Are a Victim in a Teenage Car Accident
If a teen driver has hit you and you have sustained injuries, you can work with a Dallas car accident lawyer to help you get the compensation you deserve. It can be unclear when trying to figure out the car insurance status of a teen driver when they are under the age of 18, as they might be listed under their parents’ car insurance plan. A Dallas car accident lawyer will be able to help you gather the necessary car insurance information to file a claim correctly.
As always, do your due diligence when you are involved in a car accident. Gather the necessary documentation at the car accident scene; meaning the name and information of the negligent driver, take photos of the car damage and injuries you sustained, and seek out medical attention for all injuries. Contact the police to come to the scene and get a police report written to document the negligence of the drivers involved, the damages, and the information of all parties involved.
If you are a teen driver or have a teen driver, it is essential to prepare them for the possibility of car accidents. They need to have the working knowledge of road rules and the knowledge of what to do if they were hit and injured in a car accident. One big piece of advice for teen drivers who are victims of car accidents is to make sure they DO NOT post anything on social media about their car accidents. This can hurt their chances of receiving a settlement for their injuries and damages. A Dallas car accident lawyer would be a big help in advising and handling any car accident claim a teenage driver is involved in.
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