A computer class for a college student in 1980 would have included a computer, which took up an entire room, paired with programming language and punch cards. Today’s younger generation would have trouble imagining a world without personal computers and smart phones. Tell them phones were once connected to the wall (and if no one answered, you called back later) and you will receive a blank stare of disbelief. Consider just the past fifteen or so years, which have brought us, wireless internet, smart phones, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. When you realize just how much these technologies have changed our lives, imagine a decade from now—or even longer.
Today’s teenage drivers have to combat a variety of distractions when they are behind the wheel. They must actively ignore a beeping, ringing cellphone. They must try to block out loud and rowdy friends. And they must do this while attempting to drive a vehicle.
AAA performed an analysis of teenage auto collisions and found that distracted driving caused more than 60% of those accidents. They concluded that cellphone use in particular was responsible for 12% of the accidents. Surprisingly, interacting with passengers was responsible for 15% of the accidents. The teenage brain is unable to deal with so many distractions, especially while they are learning to drive. Novice drivers have a lower threshold for managing distractions and the task of driving. This means that teenage drivers, in particular, are more vulnerable to distracted driving accidents.
Further Reading: Safe Spring Driving in Colorado
Summer is the time teens live for- graduations, pool parties, road trips, and summer jobs- so many fun places to drive other than school. Sadly, with all this new-found freedom and time spent with friends, summer is known for something else as well.
The Memorial Day and Labor Day holidays have historically marked the beginning and end of summer, respectively. In more recent times, however, they also come signify the beginning and end of a tragic time- 100 deadly days of summer, which also includes seven of the ten deadliest driving days every year.
According to data from the National Center for Health Statistics, car accidents are the number one cause killer of young people ages 15 to 20 years. With so many opportunities for teens to be on the road, summer is a great time to remind your young driver about the dangers that come with summer freedom.
Fortunately, statistics also show that teens whose parents set guidelines for them are 50 percent less likely to be in a deadly car crash. Experts recommend that parents create a written contract for their teens to sign. The contract would clarify rules for wearing a seatbelt, keeping the stereo volume low, and turning off the cellphone while in the car.
Parents should never assume their teens know exactly what their expectations are. By putting everything in writing and signing the contract, both you and your teen will have a clear understanding of what their responsibilities are when they’re away from you.
Distracted driving, drug and alcohol use, and general inexperience are all contributing factors in deadly teen crashes. Setting clear rules about these dangers will help keep your teen and everyone else on the road safer. The following statistics can help parents set safe driving parameters for their teens:
If you or someone you love has been injured in a car accident in Broomfield, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, or anywhere in Colorado, it is important to contact our experienced personal injury attorneys immediately. At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., our committed personal injury lawyers are dedicated to the belief that everyone deserves justice. Contact us at (303) 423-1770 or (866) 385-3505.
Our personal injury lawyers have extensive experience representing injured accident victims in Broomfield, Arvada, Superior, Lafayette, Louisville, Erie, Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, Westminster, Thornton, Longmont, and throughout Colorado.
At Hull & Zimmerman, P.C., we are honored to help accident victims in their time of need, and take our responsibility as personal injury lawyers incredibly seriously. We know how important it is for victims to secure the full and fair compensation they need following a serious accident, and that is why we take a hands-on, personalized approach to every case we handle.
awarded to a woman who was a victim of a car crash. The woman was driving the highway when the other driver approaching from the opposite direction lost control of his vehicle, crossed the center line and hit her head on. She suffered multiple broken bones, including her hip, pelvis, leg, and right arm. She missed several years of work as a result of her injuries. Read More
awarded to a woman who was the victim of a t-bone car crash. The client suffered multiple injuries. The most significant of which was a head injury. While she was ultimately able to return to work on a part-time basis, Plaintiff was never able to return to work on a full-time basis. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who suffered a head injury. She slipped and fell in a slanted parking lot at her place of employment. Evidence demonstrated that the owner of the building had constructed a fence shading the parking lot such that ice was allowed to continuously accumulate during the winter months. Multiple people had fallen on the ice prior to the client’s fall. As a result of her injuries, Plaintiff was forced to take early retirement. Read More
awarded to a man whose vehicle was hit from behind by a semi. The injured party suffered back pain and rotator cuff tears in each shoulder and was forced to retire from his job doing road repair four years earlier. Read More
settlement (policy limits) awarded to a young man who lost his eye when another child shot an arrow into the air. Read More
settlement obtained for a man who was injured in a rear end automobile accident. He suffered a herniated disc in his low back which was not well resolved by surgery forcing him to leave his employment as an apartment maintenance manager. Read More
awarded to a gentleman in association with a workman’s compensation case. He initially sustained a head injury at work when attacked by a patient. Several years later, his condition worsened resulting in his inability to return to work in his usual job. Read More
settlement achieved in a legal malpractice case. The client initially suffered a herniated disc in her neck in association with an automobile accident. The attorney failed to file the lawsuit in a timely manner and the Plaintiff was initially denied her ability to achieve any monies from the original lawsuit. Read More
settlement awarded to a man who was a victim of an automobile accident. Plaintiff was a passenger who was rear-ended by another driver. Following the accident, he suffered a long term back injury. Read More
settlement awarded to a lady who aggravated a pre-existing back condition when she slipped and fell at the entrance to a casino. Read More
awarded to a woman who suffered a rotator cuff tear from an automobile accident. Read More