Teenage drivers are some of the most dangerous drivers on our roadways. A recent distressing accident in Santa Rosa confirms this frightening point. A teenage motorist lost control of her vehicle and tragically killed one of her passengers, a 16-year-old girl. The crash happened around midnight when the young driver failed to safely negotiate her Lincoln MKZ into a left turn onto Skyfarm Drive at the T-intersection with Thomas Lake Harris Drive. Teen drivers can be dangerous, and if a teenage motorist leaves you or someone you care about injured, consult with an experienced Santa Rosa personal injury lawyer today.
The Santa Rosa Accident
The driver ended up taking her vehicle up and over a curb and across a sidewalk before striking three trees as it barreled down an embankment. Both of her passengers – two teenage girls – were ejected from the sedan in the process. Both passengers were taken to the hospital, where one of the young passengers died. Witnesses describe hearing a very loud crashing sound, hearing a girl screaming to call 911, and making the call. The driver was not impaired, and she cooperated with the authorities at the scene of the accident. The crash closed that section of the road down for about six hours. A friend of the deceased relayed that she thinks her friend “just went out for a fun night and just . . . reckless driving took a bad turn.” In this case, reckless driving turned deadly.
Teen Drivers: The Statistics
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports several dire statistics related to teen drivers in the United States, including:
- Car accidents are the leading cause of death for U.S. teenagers.
- In 2016, an average of 6 teenagers (aged 16 to 19) were killed in car accidents every day, and hundreds more teens were injured each day.
- In 2016, teens aged 15 to 19 made up 6.5 percent of the nation’s population, but this group accounted for 8.4 percent of the total costs related to motor vehicle injuries.
- Unsupervised teen drivers with teen passengers (as in this Santa Rosa accident) have a significantly higher crash risk.
- Teen drivers are more likely to underestimate the danger involved in hazardous driving situations.
- Teens are one of the least likely age groups to wear seatbelts.
Teen drivers can often get into crashes that cause injuries or death to others.
If a Teen Driver Leaves You Injured, Consult with an Experienced Santa Rosa Personal Injury Lawyer Today
Teen drivers are among the riskiest drivers on our roadways. If a teenage motorist leaves you or someone you love with injuries – or worse – you need professional legal counsel. The dedicated legal team at The Cartwright Law Firm, Inc. in Santa Rosa is here to help. Our experienced personal injury lawyers have the knowledge, commitment, and compassion to skillfully advocate for your rights and for your case’s most positive resolution. For more information, please don’t hesitate to contact us online or call us at (415) 851-6486 today.
Reference: Teen Killed In Santa Rosa After Car Goes Airborne Into Trees, CBS Bay Area
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