Both parents and teenagers in Louisiana should be aware of the dangers of negligent and reckless driving. Teens are prone to be in fatal crashes with 16- and 17-year-olds facing triple the risk for them when compared to adult drivers. Summer break, in particular, raises that risk to such a point that the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day is even referred to as the 100 deadliest days.
There are plenty of things that parents can do to prepare their teen for the 100 deadliest days, and it all starts with raising awareness of the dangers of negligent driving. They could speak, for example, about how hazardous it is to speed, drive impaired or not wear a seatbelt.
The AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety released the results of its annual Traffic Safety Culture Index, and these could be of some help. For example, 47% of respondents aged 16 to 18 admitted to speeding in a residential area in the past 30 days. Forty percent said they sped on the highway while 35% reported texting behind the wheel. One in four drove drowsy, 31% drove aggressively and 32% ran red lights.
Parents may want to actually coach their teen on safe driving in-vehicle. They should also set a good example, or their advice may only be ignored.
Many a personal injury case arises because teens ignore their parents’ advice and the traffic laws. As for those who are injured in the crash and not at fault, they may be compensated for their losses, including past and future medical expenses and pain and suffering. It may be a good idea to have a lawyer evaluate the case, though. Louisiana holds to a pure comparative negligence rule, which states that no degree of fault bars one from recovery.