Brain Injuries in Motor Vehicle Accidents – Teens Often Suffer Head Injuries
Brain or head injuries are a hot topic these days. Brain injuries related to sports have received a lot of media attention, and there’s been quite a bit of research about the brain injuries. However, brain injuries among teens have not received as much media attention. A joint report by the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute & State Farm in 2012 clearly shows that in the U.S., teen drivers and passengers who are involved in serious auto accidents are very likely to suffer brain and head injuries in car accidents. In addition, auto accidents are the leading cause of death in young adults aged 15 to 19. See 2012 National Teen Driver Safety Report.
Related: Teens & Safe Driving on Delaware’s Roads
The chart below shows the rates of teen injuries in auto accidents, by body part, per the Safety Report.
*Source: 2012 National Teen Driver Safety Report
These rates were derived from a sample of over 55,000 teen drivers and their teen passengers who were injured in car accidents in the U.S. The pie chart shows that head injuries, such as fractures of the skull and brain injuries, are the most common types of injuries, followed by lower extremity injuries, chest injuries and upper extremity injuries.
Delaware Teen Auto Accident Deaths
Overall, teen deaths due to car accidents are down across the U.S., including Delaware. However, Delaware has a fatal teen car accident rate of 9.3 (per 100,000 teens) which is at least double the rates in states with the lower fatal accident rates.
The report broke down the fatal accident rate for teens in all 50 states. States in the first tier have fatal teen car accident rates between 3.9 and 7.2. States in the second tier have rates between 7.5 and 10.1. Rates in the third and fourth tier are between 10.3-16.7 and 17.0-29.1, respectively. Massachusetts has the lowest rate in the country, 3.9, and Montana has the highest rate, 29.1.
The chart below shows the fatal accident rates for all states in the second tier. Delaware is in the upper range of the second tier.
*Source: 2012 National Teen Driver Safety Report
Parents should talk to their teen drivers about safe and defensive driving. Teens should be reminded frequently about the dangers of distracted driving, including texting or talking on a cell phone, eating, talking to passengers, etc.
About Knepper & Stratton
Our lawyers have decades of experience handling auto injury cases as well as employment matters. Please contact our office for more information. We have multiple offices in Delaware. (302) 658-1717
Related DE Auto Accident Injury Post:
Children & Pedestrian Accidents in Delaware The vast majority of pedestrian accidents in Delaware are completely preventable. Read these tips for parents to discuss pedestrian accident awareness with their kids and teens.
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