Teen drivers in Kentucky and across the U.S. need to be extra cautious during summer break. In particular, they need to be aware that the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is known as the 100 deadliest days. During this time, the number of teen driving crashes, and fatalities arising from them, goes up. There were over 8,300 such fatalities during the 100 deadliest days from 2008 to 2018.
Parents, for their part, need to have a good talk with their teens about the dangers of negligent and reckless driving. They need to mention, for example, that not wearing a seatbelt will make any crash injuries more severe. They can also speak about how drowsiness and distractions make one an unsafe driver. Another good idea is to set up practice driving sessions where they coach their teens in-vehicle. AAA advises doing this for at least 50 hours.
In a recent Traffic Safety Culture Index from AAA, 72% of respondents aged 16 to 18 admitted to driving negligently or recklessly in the previous 30 days. Speeding was prominent with 47% admitting to going 10 miles over the speed limit in a residential area and 40% going 15 miles over it on the highway. One in four admitted to drowsy driving, 35% to texting and 32% to running red lights.
When any of these forms of negligence is to blame for car accidents, those who were injured and whose losses cannot be covered by personal injury protection may be able to file a third-party insurance claim. Of course, it can be hard to gather proof of negligence and then negotiate for a settlement that covers all economic and non-economic losses, so victims may want to retain legal counsel. The lawyer may even help with litigation if necessary.