Tips to Help Your Teenager Avoid a Car Accident

 Posted on May 27, 2019 in Personal Injury

For many American teenagers, getting their first driver’s license is a rite of passage that is eagerly met with excitement. Though this can be a fun time for teens, studies show that teenagers are one of the most accident-prone driving demographics. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), car crashes are still the leading cause of death for teenagers between the ages of 12 and 19. It can be scary to allow your teen to drive on their own, but fortunately, there are things you can do to decrease the risk of your teen getting into an accident. Here are a couple of tips you can use to teach your teenager how to be the best driver possible:

Ensure Your Teen Gets Enough Experience

Accidents commonly happen when teenagers are young and inexperienced. Many schools offer programs where teens can take driver’s education and end the course by successfully getting their driver’s license, but these programs often do not provide enough necessary driving time. Most school programs only offer students about six hours of driving practice, while the total number of hours needed to become proficient is somewhere around 50 hours. Make sure you give your teen enough time to feel comfortable behind the wheel and know what they are doing.

Set a Good Example

You are the parent and your teenager looks to you as a role model for how they should behave. You should make sure you are setting good driving examples for your teen to be following. By wearing your seatbelt every time you are in the car, not using your cell phone, not being distracted by other things, not speeding and not getting into fits of road rage, your teen knows how they should act while driving.

Set Your Own Rules and Consequences

Another route that can prove itself useful is having your own set of rules while they are driving and consequences when they break those rules. Your teen should know that they are not only accountable to law enforcement officers but also to you. An example could be setting a rule that your teen is not allowed to have their cell phone out while they are driving. A consequence of breaking that rule could be to lose cell phone privileges for a week.

A DuPage County Car Accident Injury Attorney Can Help

Accidents are called accidents for a reason -- you never know when they will occur. You could educate your teen about everything necessary to allow them to keep themselves safe while driving, but some car accidents are unavoidable. If your teen has suffered an injury that resulted from a car accident, you need help from a knowledgeable Lombard, IL car accident injury lawyer. When the unthinkable happens, rely on the Mevorah & Giglio Law Offices to help you get your teen the compensation they deserve. Call our office today at 630-932-9100 to schedule a free consultation.