Fatal Fayetteville Crash with Teen Driver: Tragic Lessons
A tragic Fayetteville accident involving a teenage driver who ran a stop sign and plowed into an SUV this month, killing the driver of the SUV, serves as a sad reminder of a number of motor vehicle safety concerns. The SUV driver was killed when he was ejected from the vehicle because he was not wearing a seat belt.
The tragic reality is that failure to wear a seat belt is often a significant factor in car accident related fatalities. Statistics indicate that 63% of those killed in a motor vehicle accident are not wearing a seat belt at the time of the collision. It has also been estimated that seat belts save the lives of over 9,500 drivers per year. At Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law, we have been representing those seriously injured or killed in Georgia auto accidents for over 39 years.
The impact of seat belt use on motor vehicle accident related fatalities and injuries cannot be overstated. Traffic safety experts estimate that if 90% of drivers wore their seat belt it would prevent 5,500 deaths and 132,000 injuries annually. The emotional and financial cost of a car accident fatality is devastating to a family. The economic costs to society at large in terms of higher taxes and increased insurance and health care costs are also enormous. Even if a driver is extremely safe and cautious, the driver who does not wear his seat belt is at an enormous risk because of the carelessness of others. There is no defensive driving technique to avoid having one's vehicle plowed into by a driver who runs a stop sign.
It is also not surprising that the driver who ran the stop sign and caused the fatal accident was a teenage driver. Male teenage drivers who range in age between 16 and 25 pose the highest risk of being involved in an accident and are the most likely to speed or drink and drive. Amongst teenage male drivers between the ages of 15-20 who are killed in car accidents, 38% are found to have been speeding and 24% are drinking and driving. For each mile driven, a teenage driver is approximately four times more likely to be involved in a car accident. Teenage drivers lack experience but have a sense of invincibility that makes them prone to riskier behavior which contributes to their high level of accident rates. It is not clear why this teenager ran the stop sign, but distracted driving is a particular problem amongst teenagers with the popularity of texting. Fifty percent of teenage drivers admit to texting while driving. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has indicated that distracted drivers account for almost 80% of all crashes and 65% of near-crashes.
Wearing a seat belt can protect you from other drivers including teenage drivers who may engage in unsafe driving practices. If you or someone you love is injured in a motor vehicle crash, call Montlick & Associates today to see how our Georgia auto accident lawyers can help. We are available to assist clients throughout all of Georgia, including but not limited to Albany, Athens, Atlanta, Augusta, Columbus, Dalton, Gainesville, Macon, Marietta, Rome, Roswell, Savannah, Smyrna, Valdosta, Warner Robins and all smaller cities and rural areas in the state. Call us today for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333), or visit us on the web at www.montlick.com. No matter were you are in Georgia, we are just a phone call away and we will even come to you.