TENNESSEE PERSONAL INJURY ATTORNEY BLOG: Gilreath and Associates

Contact  SidGilreath.com

Tennessee Injury Blog

Helping victims of injury and wrongful death obtain compensation is just one side of our practice. We also strive to educate potential clients and the public at large so they can better discuss cases with legal counsel and ensure successful outcomes.
  • Home
  • About
    • Attorneys
    • Firm Overview
    • Press Releases & Publications
  • Case Results
  • Practice Areas
    • Personal Injury
    • Brain Injury
    • Trucking Accidents
    • Auto Accidents
    • Motorcycle Accidents
    • Aviation Accidents
    • Boating/Watercraft Accidents
    • Medical Malpractice
    • Defective Products
    • Workers Compensation
    • Railroad Injuries/FELA
    • Memphis Car Accidents
    • Nashville Personal Injury Attorneys
    • Knoxville Car Accident Attorneys
    • Nashville Car Accidents
    • Birth Injury
  • Learn
    • FAQs
  • Blog
  • Contact
    • Directions
    • Referring Attorneys
Home / Safety / Tennessee Number One in Teen Driving Deaths

Tennessee Number One in Teen Driving Deaths

February 28, 2013 By Staff Writer

Watching your child move from the back seat to the passenger seat and finally, as a teen, from the passenger seat to the driver’s seat, is a frightening and stressful time. In fact, it can be so big a step that many parents hesitate to let their teen get behind the wheel in the first place.

Unfortunately, the statistics on teen driving death in 2012 confirm that parents have a right to be worried.

The Governor’s Highway Safety Association released its annual report in February on the status of 16 and 17 year old car accident-related deaths in 2012, concluding that teen driving deaths increased for the second consecutive year—jumping from 202 to 240 fatalities.

The 19% increase in adolescent accident fatalities attracted the attention of Dr. Allan Williams, a researcher who previously worked as the chief scientist at the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety.

Dr. Williams conducted the first ever state-by-state study of teen driving deaths, finding that 25 states experienced an increase. And Tennessee ranked at the very top of the list.

According to Dr. Williams’ findings, Tennessee tied with Indiana as the state with the highest number of teen car accident fatalities in the country, with 16 adolescents killed last year alone, up by ten from the year before.

In response to the disturbing numbers, the Director of Tennessee’s Governor Highway Safety Office, Kendall Poole, responded, “Any increase in highway deaths is unacceptable, particularly among our teens. We know from research and experience that teen drivers are not only a danger to themselves, but also a danger to others on the roadways. So these numbers are a cause for concern.”

The good news amongst all this discouraging information is that in general, teen auto fatalities is down overall from prior decades. In 1995, over 1,000 teens died on U.S. roads—well over double the current statistics.

Dr. Williams acknowledges this silver lining, but stresses the importance of continuing to teach adolescents how to drive safely, saying, “We are still at a much better place than we were ten or even five years earlier. However, the goal is to strive toward zero deaths, so our aim would be that these deaths should go down every year.”

The answer to reducing the risk that your teen will be involved in a serious car accident is not by keeping them in the passenger seat forever, but by teaching them that safe driving is the only way to drive.

It’s also important to let your teens know that they, and only they, can be held responsible in the event of an accident. In fact, in many states, like Texas, teen drivers may be further punished by the court for deliberate traffic violations. In such cases, often the parents can be held legally liable for court fines and costs if their teen isn’t able to pay the penalty.

Making teens aware of the data may be a good place to start. After all, if adolescents look at these statistics as more than mere numbers—as their friends and peers—then the dangers of reckless driving become a lot less abstract and a lot more real.

Read Dr. Williams’ report in its entirety here.

Contact a Tennessee car accident attorney to receive expert representation in an auto collision case involving a teen driver.

Related Resources

  • How to Get a Copy of the Car Accident Police Report in Tennessee
    How to Get a Copy of the Car Accident Police Report in…
  • website hip lawsuit contact form
    website hip lawsuit contact form
  • Chris Gilreath Talks Trucking Industry Regulations & Accident Liability
    Chris Gilreath Talks Trucking Industry Regulations &…
Nationwide Toll Free: (800) 637-7024
Nationwide Toll Free
800.637.7024

Search

Categories

  • Advocacy
  • Auto Accidents
  • Community
  • Inadequate Security
  • Injury
  • Legislation
  • Medical Device
  • Medical Malpractice
  • Product Failures
  • Safety
  • Tennessee
  • Trucking Accidents
  • Wrongful Death

Archives

Tags

auto safety aviation accidents birth injury boating accidents boating safety brain injury car accidents child safety civil lawsuits community events court rulings defective medical products defective products distracted driving DUI food safety hip replacement lawsuits medical malpractice medical product failures meningitis outbreak motorcycle accidents negligence nursing home abuse pedestrian accidents personal injury personal injury lawsuits pharmaceutical liability playground safety premises liability prescription errors product liability attorneys product recalls product safety lawsuits seatbelt failure slip & fall Tennessee malpractice lawyer Tennessee truck accidents Tennessee truck accident safety regulation tort law toy safety tractor trailer accidents train accidents truck accident settlements workers' comp wrongful death

Membership badges

Gilreath & Associates
KNOXVILLE
Bank of America Center
550 Main Ave
Suite 600

Knoxville, TN 37902
United States
865-637-2442
Gilreath & Associates
MEMPHIS
One Memphis Place
200 Jefferson Ave
Suite 711

Memphis, TN 38103
United States
901-527-0511
Gilreath & Associates
NASHVILLE
The Stahlman Building
211 Union St
Suite 200

Nashville, TN 37201
United States
(865) 637-2442
  • SidGilreath.com
  • Find us on Facebook

The hiring of a lawyer is an important decision that should not be based solely upon advertisements. Before you decide, ask us to send you free written information about our qualifications and experience. This web site is designed for general information only. The information presented at this site should not be construed to be formal legal advice nor the formation of a lawyer/client relationship.

Law Firm Web Design & Marketing Services by SEO Advantage, Inc.™


Part of the Enjuris Network


Tennessee Personal Injury Lawyers at Gilreath & Associates offer free and personal consultation to help you evaluate your legal options.
Our attorneys are dedicated to helping you recover financially from an injury stemming from someone else's negligence.