What are my rights?
Car Accidents
“Schools out. Time to start learning.”
SAFETY TIPS:
Tips for Teen Drivers.
- In the Land of 10,000 Lakes, there’s a good chance you or a loved one will be driving or riding in a boat this summer. Please review these basic boating principles and share them with your friends and family. And have a safe and happy summer.
- Pay Attention. Driver distraction is the most common contributing factor in multiple-vehicle crashes. Keep the radio…and your phone off.
- Be a Daytime Driver. Your risk of a fatal crash is three times higher at night than in the day.
- Go the Speed Limit. Excessive speed is the most common contributing factor in single-vehicle crashes for drivers.
- Never Drink and Drive. It severely impairs your reaction time and decision-making skills.
- Take the Keys Away. If a friend has been drinking, NEVER let them get behind the wheel.
- Wear Your Seat Belt. Properly wearing a seat belt significantly reduces the risk of fatal injury to front seat passengers. And…it’s the law.
- Get Enough Sleep. A person who has been awake 24 hours experiences impairment almost equal to a blood alcohol content of .10.
- Check Traffic Before Pulling Out. Most crashes involving teens occur at intersections, due to inexperience judging distance and speed.
- Drive Solo. The presence of passengers strongly increases the risk of a crash.
- Drive Defensively. Assume that other drivers aren’t as thoughtful or skilled as you are.
Tips for Parents
- Be Chauffeured. Once your teen receives his/her learner’s permit, have them drive you everywhere. This extra time behind the wheel will help them get more comfortable driving.
- Hold Your Shouting. Never overreact when you’re on the road with your teen. Studies have shown that an emotionally charged conversation reduces attention span and increases distractions.
- Meet Your Teen’s Friends. Monitor your teen driver’s comings and goings, and meet who they’ll be traveling with. Studies show that a teen driver with passengers is three times as likely to die in a fatal crash than one driving alone.
- Choose a Safe Car. The type of car your teen drives can be a matter of life and death. Choose a vehicle in good condition, with a good reliability record.
Hang Up and Drive
It is now a Minnesota law that any new teen driver is not allowed to talk on a mobile phone while driving, unless the call is for an emergency, even if the driver is using a hands-free device. Violation of this law can result in a fine up to $100, plus court costs and license suspension.
Teenage Driving Statistics
From 1999 to 2003, Minnesota traffic crashes took 236 teen lives
Half of all teenage traffic fatalities occur between 6 p.m. Fri. and 3 a.m. Sun.
Teenagers driving at night with passengers are 4-5 times more
likely to crash than teens driving alone during the day
Alcohol is responsible for almost half of all teen motor vehicle death
Contact Minnesota-based Sieben, Grose, Von Holtum & Carey to speak with one of our personal injury attorneys.
