Tampa Automobile Accidents Attorney Dale Appell, P.A. & The Fight to Prevent Teen Car Accidents

According to the National Safety Council, automobile accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers. Nationwide, 38 percent of teenage fatalities can be attributed to auto accidents. Furthermore, Allstate Insurance says the Tampa Bay area is the most dangerous place in the nation for teenagers to drive during the winter holidays.

As a resident of the Tampa Bay area, it is likely that you have heard or know of a teenager who was tragically injured or killed in an automobile accident. Tampa automobile accidents attorney Dale Appell, P.A. also has personal experience with teenage auto accidents; his brother suffered serious, lifelong injuries as a teenager when his motorcycle was hit by a negligent driver. Our law firm believes that, by working together and promoting safe driving among teenagers, the Tampa Bay community can reduce the amount of young people being killed and seriously injured in automobile accidents.

The first step in confronting this crisis in the Tampa Bay, Florida area is understanding the circumstances that lead up to these accidents. The reasons behind risky teenage driving are many, but they can typically be attributed to:

• Peer pressure
• Inexperience behind the wheel
• Driver distraction (i.e. text messaging, cell phone use, etc.)
• Alcohol and other controlled substances
• The tendency to underestimate or not recognize risks in the road
• Impulsive, thrill-seeking behavior (common when youthful brains are still developing)
• Speeding, racing, and other reckless driving habits

In most cities across the country, including in Tampa, Florida, teenage drivers are required to pass a driver education course (available online) and a written test in order to receive a learners permit. For their drivers license, teens are required to pass a written and a driving test. Many experts believe that teenage automobile accidents can be prevented by increasing these requirements. For example, a teenager could be required to complete a certain number of hours behind the wheel before he or she is eligible for a full drivers license. This intermediate time between a learners permit and a full drivers license can give teenagers the added experience they need before they take on this weighty responsibility.

There are several ways for parents and guardians in the Tampa Bay area to decrease the risks for teenage drivers. First, make sure your teenager always wears a seatbelt. Keep your teenager informed about the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs and tell your teenager that he or she can call you for a ride if there's a danger of driving under the influence (either by your teen or another teen). Take your teenager out for many hours of driving practice and enroll your teenager in at least one high quality driver education class. Finally, choose a safe car for your teenager to drive.

No matter what your age, if you have been involved in a car accident with injuries in the greater Tampa Bay area, please contact Tampa automobile accidents attorney Dale Appell, P.A. for a free assessment of your case. Whether you are here in Tampa, Florida or in a surrounding area like Sarasota, Clearwater, Tarpon Springs, Pinellas Park, St Petersburg, Pasco, Safety Harbor, Polk, Riverview, and beyond, we are here to fight for justice, for you.