By Pendergast Law on March 27, 2012
Teenagers suffer serious injuries and deaths in car accidents at a rate four times higher than the general population, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Many of these accidents are due to inexperience, which prevents teens from making the right call in an emergency situation – even if their driving is not what originally causes the emergency.
The first step in helping protect your teen on the road is to extend your teen’s supervised driving time. Most driver education programs require teens to practice driving with a parent or other licensed adult in the car, but you can help your teen get crucial experience by logging more hours than the minimum required for a license as your teen’s supervising parent in the car. Adding night driving hours also helps teens gain important experience.
Next, set rules for the road. Limit the number of passengers your teen can transport, and instruct him or her never to use a cell phone or other electronic device while operating the car. Instead, have your teen make it a habit to pull over before sending or returning calls or texts.
Parents can help teens prevent accidents, but they can’t control others’ negligence on the road. If you or someone you love is injured in a car accident, call the experienced Seattle car accident attorneys at Hardwick & Pendergast, P.S. to learn about your legal rights and options. Your initial consultation is free. Call us today at 1888-539-9211.