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EPPERLY
& FOLLIS, P.C.
7 East Franklin Street
Richmond, VA 23219
1-888-703-0109
(804)
648-6480
depperly@lawyersva.com |
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Teen Drivers
According to the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles,
the number of fatal car crashes among teens in Virginia is
increasing at a rate of approximately 10 percent a year. By
the year 2010, there will be more than 26 million
16-to-20-year-old drivers on the nation’s roads – a 23
percent increase over the number of teens driving today.
At Epperly & Follis, P.C., we know that car accidents are
the leading cause of death of teenagers and young adults.
Our Virginia-based law firm has an impressive track record
representing teens and the families of teens that have
suffered significant injuries in car accidents. We will
fight for you and your teen, too, and help you find ways to
stay safe behind the wheel.
A study by the National Highway Traffic Safety
Administration (NHTSA), 16-to-24-year-old drivers accounted
for 25 percent of all traffic deaths. Some 2005 statistics
from the Virginia Department of Motor Vehicles:
7,512 persons were injured in alcohol-related crashes, a
5.04 percent decrease from 2004
2 teenagers, aged 15-19, were killed in alcohol-related
crashes, 3.38 percent of the total (946) traffic fatalities
809 teenagers, aged 15-19, were injured in alcohol-related
crashes, 1.06 percent of the total (76,023) traffic injuries
Each year in Virginia, 92,000new drivers receive their
licenses, and most of them are teens. Because of the
steadily rising number of teens involved in car accidents,
numerous states have enacted special laws to help prevent
accidents. Effective July 1, 2007, Virginia drivers younger
than 18 years of age may not operate a motor vehicle in the
state while using a cellular telephone or other wireless
communications devices. The new law prohibits the use of
cell phones, even if they are considered to be hands-free.
It also prohibits text-messaging while driving.
According to the Virginia DMV, distracted driving is among
the leading causes of crashes for inexperienced and new
drivers. With this law in effect, drivers 18 years and
younger should have their cell phones turned off except in a
driver emergency or when the vehicle is lawfully parked or
stopped.
In addition, numerous studies have indicated that for a
16-year-old, just having one additional teen passenger in
the car increases by 39 percent the risk of death by
accident. According to a University of Michigan study,
having two teen passengers in the car increases the risk of
death by 86 percent, and having three teen passengers
creates a 100 percent increase in risk of a traffic
fatality.
To decrease the amount of such risk-taking behavior among
inexperienced drivers, Virginia – like many other states –
has implemented a set of laws that divide the process of
obtaining a drivers clients into a number of phases for
every license applicant under the age of 19. The steps:
1. The holder of a learners permit is allowed to drive only
if supervised by a licensed driver who is at least 21 years
old (18 years old if the supervising driver is the member of
the immediate family). he permit holder must complete at
least 40 hours of supervised driving, 10 of which must be
performed at night.
2. The permit holder must complete a DMV-approved drivers
education course that usually includes a driving test.
3. The permit holder is not allowed to operate a motor
vehicle between the hours of midnight and 4:00 a.m.
4. The permit holder may not carry more than one passenger
under the age of 18 (this does not apply to the immediate
family members)
If the driver fulfils the above requirements, he or she will
be granted a full drivers license that allows unsupervised
driving. However, the full drivers license will still have
some limitations for one year after the date of issuance, or
when he or she turns 19.
Keeping our children safe is vital. If your child is injured
in an accident it can impact their entire future. At Epperly
& Follis we represent teens who have been injured in
accidents and make sure we protect their futures.
Contact Epperly & Follis for a free consultation today at
1-888-703-0109 or (804) 648-6480, or contact us via our
online Contact
Form.
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