Last week was the fourth anniversary of the toughening of Connecticut’s teen driving laws. And, looking at the statistics, it appears the stricter laws have worked to reduce fatal car accidents caused by teenage drivers.
The year before the law was enacted, seven 16- and 17-year-old drivers died in Connecticut car accidents. Since then, the number of fatal teen accidents has continued to fall. Only one teenage driver was killed last year. In total, teenage driver crashes decreased by 34 percent. This is eight percent higher than the national average.
The change in Connecticut driving laws included an earlier curfew (11 a.m.), a longer period of time during which teenagers could not drive with young passengers, stricter training, greater penalties, a mandatory teen-parent safe driving information session and other restrictions.
Reducing teen driving accidents was vital, since traffic accidents kill more teens nationwide than any other type of accident.
Of course, not all teenage car accident fatalities are caused by teen drivers. Some are the result of other driver’s negligent behavior, such as distracted driving, drunk driving and speeding.
If your teen was involved in a fatal car accident, whether or not he or she caused the accident, you may be able to recover compensation for damages, including funeral expenses, medical bills, and pain and suffering. No amount of money will return your teenager back to you, but bringing a personal injury claim can give you the financial support you need during this difficult time. And a personal injury lawyer can take the legal burden off your shoulders.
Source: Connecticut DMV, “4th Anniversary Wednesday of Teen Safe Driving Laws,” July 31, 2012.