Despite a spate of recent tragedies across the Midwest, car accidents among teenagers in the United States are actually declining. Teenage deaths from fatal car wrecks dropped from 8,748 in 1975 to a 2010 total of 3,115; these numbers come from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Still, car accidents are the leading cause of death for people ages 13 to 19—and they’re three times more likely to be in a car accident than older drivers are.
In March of 2013, the Governors Highway Safety Association released a report that shows fatal crashes involving teenage drivers have declined over the past ten years. 435 sixteen-year-old drivers were killed in car accidents in 2000; this number decreased to 173 by 2011. For seventeen-year-olds behind the wheel, the number decreased from 564 to 250 during the same length of time. And for passengers involved in motor vehicle wrecks (where the driver was between 15 and 20 years old), fatalities have decreased from 1,898 in 1982 to 777 in 2011.
Improvements in auto safety and various restrictions on younger drivers are credited with the reduced amount of accidents. The restrictions, many introduced in the 1990s, limit driving at night and driving with teenage passengers in the vehicle. And, interestingly, fewer teenagers and people in their twenties and thirties are getting driver licenses; this percentage has dropped significantly over the past three decades in the United States. It’s hard to say whether this change is due to urban migration (where cars aren’t a necessity to get around), advances in communication technology, or unemployment keeping people from buying cars.
If you have been injured in a car accident, contact Mike Agruss Law, for a free consultation at 312-224-4695. Mike Agruss Law, handles personal injury cases throughout Illinois. Mike Agruss Law, will handle your personal injury case quickly, will advise you every step of the way, and will not hesitate to go to trial for you. This litigation strategy will provide you with the best possible compensation.
Lastly, Mike Agruss Law, does not get paid attorney’s fees unless we win your case. Our no-fee promise is that simple. Therefore, you have nothing to risk when you hire our Chicago personal injury law firm–just the opportunity to seek justice. Call us today at 312-224-4695.
