Teenage Girl Slams Car Into Barrier Wall

 Posted on October 16, 2012 in Personal Injury

According to the chtribune, a teenage girl was taken to an Evanston-area hospital with life-threatening injuries after crashing her vehicle into the eastern barrier wall along Green Bay Road at McCormick Boulevard. Luckily there was no one else inside of her car, and no other vehicles were involved. The major intersection, however, was closed for several hours and traffic was re-routed. The crash fits the profile for the stereotype of teen driving, and waves all the red flags for advocates who believe that 16-year-olds shouldn't be given driving privileges. New Jersey is currently the only state in the U.S. that doesn't permit any type of adolescent driving below the age of 17. Presumably because of accidents like that of the Evanston teen, many have recently called to raise the driving age, according to CBS News. Adrian Lund, president of the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, told CBS that, "the bottom line is that when we look at the research, raising the driving age saves lives." According to the Center for Disease Control, "in 2010, seven teens aged 16 to 19 died every day from motor vehicle injuries." The argument for raising the driving age across the board in America is augmented by the fact that "per mile drive, teen drivers ages 16 to 19 are three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash." Drivers this young account for less than 14 percent of the U.S. population, but nearly 30 percent of the total costs of motor vehicle injuries. Having teenage drivers on the road when their risk of crashing is so much statistically higher isn't just a risk to the drivers themselves—like in the Evanston crash—but to experienced drivers and passengers sharing the road. Teenagers are less likely to wear seatbelts, more likely to be talking or texting on a cell phone, and are more likely to have an accident after drinking than adults with a comparable blood alcohol level. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident because of a negligent teenage driver, you may be eligible for compensation. Contact an experienced Chicago-area personal injury attorney today.