Georgia Teen Dies in Single Vehicle Accident
Recently, a Georgia teen died following a single vehicle accident in Harris County, according to a local news report. The Harris County Coroner pronounced the 18 year old from Columbus dead in the morning hours after undergoing several surgeries in an attempt to save his life. The teen was riding as a passenger in a pickup truck in the southbound lane just after midnight when the car suddenly crashed. There were three people inside of the vehicle and none were wearing seatbelts. The two other occupants were both injured in the accident. It is thought at this time that speed was a factor in the crash.
Teens and Single Vehicle Crashes
Almost half of all accidents are single vehicle accidents, and thousands of teens are killed each year in these tragic crashes. Teens seem particularly prone to single vehicle accidents. There are several factors that can make teen drivers more at risk for single vehicle crashes, including, but not limited to:
- Speed: Speed is one of the primary causes of single vehicle accidents and teens are among the most likely to exceed the speed limit. Speed can cause drivers to lose control of their vehicles and run into obstacles or even veer off the road. In order to keep your teen safe, ensure he or she understands the importance of staying within the speed limit and slowing down in inclement weather or around curves.
- Inexperience: Teen drivers lack the experience that comes with decades of driving. Inexperienced drivers are more likely to lose control around curves, follow too closely, pass when it is not safe to do so and much more. Inexperience combines to generate a significant number of single vehicle crashes.
- Distracted driving: Teens today are glued to their cell phones. This distracted behavior can cause teens to swerve off the road or into other lanes and obstacles. Distracted teens can cause serious accidents, injuring themselves and their passengers.
- Lack of seatbelt use: Teen drivers are the least likely to wear their seatbelts. In the event of a single vehicle crash, your seatbelt can mean the difference between life and death. Instill the importance of seatbelt use in your child from the beginning by enforcing seatbelt use throughout his or her childhood.
- Road conditions: Poorly maintained roads or roads that do not have adequate warning signs can cause single vehicle collisions, particularly for inexperienced teen drivers. States must do their part to maintain roads to prevent accidents, while teens need to adjust their driving behavior to adapt to poor road conditions.
- Driving while intoxicated: Teens are more likely than other demographics to drive while drunk. Drunk driving causes a number of single vehicle accidents annually, so ensure your teen understands the dangers of drinking while driving.
Put Our Law Firm's Over 39 Years of Experience to Work For Your Claim
If you injured in any type of car accident, contact the Georgia Car Accident Lawyers at Montlick and Associates, Attorneys at Law. Our firm is dedicated to assisting those injured in all manner of traffic accidents across Georgia and in the Southeast and we bring over 39 years of experience to your case. The sooner you act after your car accident, the greater your chances of obtaining a full recovery. As such, it is important that you seek the assistance of a licensed lawyer as soon as possible. Call Montlick & Associates, Attorneys at Law, 24 hours a day/7 days a week for your Free Consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333). You can also visit us online at www.montlick.com and use our Free Case Evaluation Form or 24-hour Live Online Chat.
Source:
http://www.wtvm.com/story/30344203/traffic-accident-in-harris-co-kills-teen