Driving is a privilege that many people take for granted. It used to be that not everyone needed a driver’s license. However, in today’s society, with urban sprawl an ever-increasing reality, even young drivers need a license to get to and from school and work. These young drivers, while they are required to attend a driver’s education course and pass applicable practical tests, do not always possess the judgment and real-world experience necessary to safely operate motor vehicles in all conditions.
Indeed, according to a recent study by the Center for Disease Control, young drivers aged 15-25 represent only 14% of the total driving population, but they end up being involved in over 30% of the total accidents. Interestingly, there are several contributing factors that experts cite when explaining the heightened dangers:
- Speeding is involved in about 35% of all teen-driver crashes.
- The presence of at least one male passenger in the car increases the likelihood of an accident.
- Alcohol is involved in 25% of accidents involving teens.
- Teens are less likely to wear their seat-belts, increasing the severity of the injuries suffered in most of the accidents.
Three Teens Die in Fatal Clarksburg Accident
Earlier this month, three teens passed away after they were involved in a single-vehicle accident at around 11:30 in the evening. According to one local news report covering the tragedy, the accident took place on Burnt Hill Road near Kingstead Road, when the 1989 Ford F-250 one of the teens was operating inexplicably left the roadway and crashed into a tree.
When emergency crews responded, all three teens were trapped inside the cab of the truck and had to be extricated. Sadly, by the time emergency responders were able to remove the young men from the truck, two had passed away. The third passed away a short time later after succumbing to his injuries at the hospital.
Investigators told reporters that the accident likely occurred when the driver of the truck lost control of the vehicle around one of the many unlit, wooded curves in the road. It is believed that speed played a role in the fatal accident. Police do not believe that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the accident, but the results from the toxicology reports have yet to come back from the lab.
Have You Been Injured in a Maryland Car Accident?
If you or a loved one has been injured in a Maryland car accident, either as a driver or as a passenger, you may be entitled to monetary compensation. Even as a passenger in a single-vehicle accident, you may be able to recover compensation from the driver’s insurance company for any injuries you or your loved one sustained. The skilled personal injury attorneys at the Maryland and Washington, D.C. law firm of Lebowitz & Mzhen Personal Injury Lawyers have decades of experience bringing cases against negligent drivers and their insurance companies. Call 410-654-3600 today to set up a free consultation.
More Blog Posts:
DUI Accidents on Maryland Roads, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published May 17, 2016.
Premises Liability Case Dismissed Based on Lack of Foreseeability of Harm, Maryland Car Accident Attorney Blog, published June 2, 2016.