Report: Three 15-Year-Olds Injured in a Car Accident Near Spokane

According to a report from KHQ Local News, three 15-year-olds were injured in a crash in Eastern Washington. The car accident happened on Washington State Route 291, just north of the City of Spokane.

A spokesperson for Washington State Patrol told reporters that the vehicle being driven by one of the young drivers left the road and rolled over, striking a tree near the highway. All three 15-year-olds were transported to a Spokane hospital. Unfortunately, this case is merely the latest example of a teen driver being involved in a serious collision.

Teen Drivers: Accidents and Injuries

The research is clear: Teen drivers get into car accidents at a far higher rate than do drivers of any other age group. Per vehicle mile driven, drivers between the ages of 15 and 19 are nearly three times more likely to be involved in a crash.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that motor vehicle collisions are the single leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States. These deaths (and many serious injuries) are preventable. Each year, 300,000 American teenagers receive emergency medical attention for auto accident injuries.

Three Safety Tips for Parents of Young Drivers

Are you the parent of a teenage driver in Spokane? If so, it is both normal and reasonable to be worried every time your child gets behind the wheel. The good news is that there are proactive steps that you can take to reduce their odds of getting into a major crash. Here are three safety tips for parents of young drivers:

Practice: Many teenagers are involved in collisions because of inexperience. Young drivers need to practice. Ideally, this practice will occur with a parent or with another trustworthy adult providing guidance. You may even want to get supplemental professional driving lessons for your child.
Restrict: Even if their license allows unrestricted drivers, parents have the right to put their own limitations on a minor. It is generally a best practice to limit when your teenager can drive, where they can go, and who they can drive with.
Enforce: Teenagers need to develop safe, defensive driving habits. If you catch your teen driving in an unsafe manner, it is time to take away the keys. As an example, distracted driving is a serious problem from young drivers. You need to make sure your teenager puts the cell phone away while operating a vehicle. If they fail to do so, they should lose their driving privileges.

Call Our Spokane, WA Auto Accident Attorneys for Legal Guidance

At Albrecht‌ ‌Law‌ ‌PLLC, our Washington car accident lawyers are reliable advocates for injured victims. We are dedicated to getting people and families justice and full financial compensation. If your teenager was hurt in a collision, we are here to help. Contact us now for a no cost, no commitment review of your car accident injury claim. We represent injured victims throughout the region, including in Spokane, Country Homes, Springdale, Chewelah, and Newport.