Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog
According to a report that was recently released by the Governors Highway Safety Association, the number of teenage drivers killed during the first half of 2012 increased sharply. This was in contravention of the general downward trend over the past decade.During the first six months of 2012, statistics regarding deaths in traffic accidents of 16 and 17 year old drivers were as follows:
- total number of deaths combined increased by 19%
- 107 sixteen year olds died between January and June of 2012, compared to 86 drivers during the same period in 2011
- 133 seventeen year olds died in the first half of 2012 compared with 116 in the first half of 2011
This report was based upon preliminary data, which is sometimes subject to change, due to reporting errors or omissions, or for other reasons. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is expected to release more definitive data later this year, which may provide further clarification regarding the statistics.
Of all of the states that reported, 25 reported increased rates, whereas 17 reported decreases, and eight states and the District of Columbia reported no change in the number of deaths for sixteen and seventeen year olds.
The overall trend, aside from this anomoly, was a downward trend in the deaths of these new drivers. For example, in 2000, 435 sixteen year old drivers were killed, compared with 173 in 2011.
Results were similar with seventeen year old drivers,with the 564 killed in 2000, and 250 in 2011. This downward trend has been in accordance with a similar decline in nationwide traffic fatalities overall.
Despite this downward trend, motor vehicle collisions remain the leading cause of serious injury and death for teenagers nationwide. In 2010, almost 300,000 young people were wounded in a preventable traffic accident. Teenagers are reportedly three times more likely to die in a car accident than people who are over the age of 20.
Illinois has adopted graduated driver license laws in an effort to reduce the number of catastrophic and fatal accidents involving teens. Motorists under age 18 are required to complete an approved driver education course before obtaining an operator’s license, and may only drive during certain hours. Minor drivers face the additional restriction of being prohibited from the use of a cellular telephone (with or without a hands-free device) while driving, except in case of extreme emergency.
If you were hurt or lost a loved one in a car accident, you should contact the attorneys at Abels & Annes, P.C. Our dedicated Chicago car accident lawyers are reachable any time in order to answer your questions, and if necessary help you file your personal injury or wrongful death case. Our hardworking attorneys have many years of experience in advocating on behalf of clients who were injured in motor vehicle accidents throughout the Chicago area. To speak with a personal injury lawyer today, please contact Abels & Annes, P.C. by calling us at (312) 924-7575 or through our website.
More Blog Posts:
3 Doors Down Bass Player Allegedly Causes Fatal DUI Crash, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published April 21, 2013
Rear-End Collision with Semi Leaves Chicagoan Dead, Chicago Car Accident Lawyers Blog, published April 19, 2013