With summer in full-swing, teens are out on the roads more often than normal, traveling to new locations they may be unfamiliar with. Because of this, the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day has become known as the “100 deadliest days” for teen drivers.

According to research from AAA, accidents involving teens ages 16 to 19 increase significantly during the summer months, leading to a 16 percent spike in deaths over other times during the year.

In the last five years, researchers found that an average of 1,000 people die every year during this period in accidents involving teen drivers.

Driver distraction is a leading cause for these accidents. One study involving dash-camera video found that 58.5 percent of accidents between 2007 and 2015 involved a driver who was talking or texting on a cellphone. Further analysis determined that the leading causes of driver distraction before an accident were:

• 15 percent of drivers were talking to others in the car
• 12 percent involved a cellphone
• 11 percent involved looking at or attending to something inside the car

According to the National Safety Council, the most dangerous risk for teen drivers during the summer months is having too many passengers in the vehicle. Passengers can increase a teen driver’s risk for being involved in an accident by 44 percent.

Although texting while driving does present a dangerous distraction for drivers, that distraction is only temporary, while passengers present a constant distraction.

This is a major concern for new drivers hitting the road. If a teenager has been driving for less than a year, parents must weigh the situations and conditions in which they will allow their teen to drive with other passengers.

If you or someone you love has been injured because of a distracted driver, you may be entitled to compensation. At Garrett, Walker, Aycoth, and Olson, our experienced auto accident attorneys can help you receive the compensation you deserve. Contact us today for a no-cost consultation to review your claim and let us fight for the justice you deserve.