Philadelphia Car Accident Lawyer Blog

As an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney for the past 32 years and as the father of a teenager and two young adults, I am reminded of how anxious young teenagers are to get the car keys in their hand while many times failing to understand that a motor vehicle has the potential to be a weapon of death and catastrophic injury in certain circumstances. Not so surprisingly, kids killed in cars is up to four times greater than adults. My own personal experience or bias leads me to believe that it takes at least a year or two to become an educated and safe driver. A recent study of fatal teen crashes revealed that among the most common driving errors leading to fatal accidents or death are caused by the lack of experience. Over one percent of all teenage accidents are caused by the failure to scan the traffic ahead. Not so surprisingly, another major cause of teenage accidents was distraction, either from something inside or outside the car, which contributed to 20% of serious teen auto crashes. Researchers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Center for Injury Research and Prevention, concluded that aggression, cold weather, and drowsiness were not primary factors in most teen collisions.

Recently a case was brought to my attention where a young teenage driver suffered a violent collision the day he received his driver’s license. When he was questioned about what happened, he stated he turned to look at his girlfriend not realizing that when he turned the wheel turned with him, and he steered right into another vehicle totaling both cars.

When I went to high school, driver’s education was mandatory and today I think parents owe an obligation to their children, as well as other motorists on the road, to promote safe driving skills by enrolling their teenagers in a proper driver education program. Full scanning of the road ahead and on the side and use of the mirrors takes time to fully appreciate and understand. This experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney salutes New Jersey’s 10 year old graduated driver’s license law which requires young probationary driver’s to carry no more than one teenage passenger in a vehicle unless there is an adult also accompanying them. A red bumper decal must be placed on the vehicle identifying drivers who have not yet completed the GDL training phase. Not so surprisingly, there was a decline in teen traffic deaths in New Jersey by more than 50% since the law went into effect.