Teen drivers in New Jersey need to stay safe this spring season

With spring officially upon us, countless teenagers will soon begin to hit to roads nationwide – including those teens right here in New Jersey. Unfortunately for many of these young drivers, as more teens get behind the wheel to participate in their springtime festivities – such as prom and graduation – traffic-related injuries and deaths involving these adolescent motorists tend to also increase.
If fact, the concern over springtime teenage car accidents in New Jersey led to last year’s passage of New Jersey Senate Resolution 52, which designated last May as “National Youth Traffic Safety Month.”
According to the Resolution – often dubbed SR52 – teenagers in New Jersey only comprise six percent of all drivers but they are involved in 13 percent of car accidents. This translates to a rate of one New Jersey teenager crash every 10 minutes.
Moreover, the Resolution notes that May is the month in which more teen accidents occur than any other month – with prom season often kicking off this deadly traffic trend. May also marks the beginning of a deadly four-month period in which eight of the 10 deadliest days of the year for young motorists occur.

Teenage driver fatality report

Tragically, a recent report issued by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) is giving teens additional reasons for concern as the report discovered an astonishing 19 percent increase in teen driver fatalities during the first six months of last year.
Specifically, the report discovered that fatalities among 16- and 17-year old drivers increased from 202 in the first six months of 2011 to 240 during the same period last year. In particular, 17-year-old drivers experienced a 15 percent increase in fatalities and a 24 percent increase in deaths was observed among 16-year-old drivers – which averaged out to the collective increase of 19 percent.

Seek help if injured

As the New Jersey Senate Resolution indicates, car accidents involving teen drivers are often the result of speeding, failure to yield or distraction. Victims involved in car accidents with these teenage drivers need to know that options may exist to compensate them for their injuries. For instance, car accident victims may be able to hold negligent parties liable for their damages in court.
Moreover, if a person loses a spouse or child in a motor vehicle accident because of the negligence of another, they may be entitled to damages under a New Jersey wrongful death suit.
As spring progresses and May quickly approaches, teens need to remember to stay safe on the roads in order to avoid auto accidents. However, if you or a loved one has already been injured by a reckless driver, it is often important to contact an experienced personal injury attorney to be advised of your rights and options.