Richmond Teen Driver Lawyers

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.