Waco Personal Injury Law Blog

Teenagers often feel incredibly excited when they finally get a license and they can drive. Parents, on the other hand, feel nervous. They know that inexperienced teen drivers face extra risks on the roads. They know how dangerous it is to get behind the wheel. That doesn't mean they don't want the teens to drive -- they know how helpful and necessary it is -- but they do worry that the kids will not be safe.

It's a legitimate concern. To show how dangerous things can get out there, here are six key facts about deadly accidents involving teenage drivers:

1. The number of teen accidents resulting in death jumps by about 15% in October, making it the most dangerous month.
2. Experts note that the increase stated above corresponds with the time of year that teens go back to school or college. They also may attend school-related events like dances or football games.
3. For drivers who are 16 years old and in their first year of driving, the odds of getting into a fatal accident double after dark.
4. The majority of nighttime accidents involving teens -- deadly or otherwise -- happen from 9 p.m. to 12 a.m.
5. Fatal wrecks occur often from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m., making up about 32% of the total, or roughly a third of all deadly teen accidents. This number is far higher than it should be since teens only drive about 14% of their total miles during this same time. That shows that the risks are vastly higher at night.
6. Reasons for accidents involve everything from driving too fast for conditions to running off of the road to driving under the influence.

School will be back in session is just a matter of weeks here in Waco. If you have young kids, then one of their favorite times of the day likely is when they can take a break from their classes and head outside for recess. Sadly, playgrounds are the one place where kids are most apt to get hurt while at school.

According to Nationwide Children's Hospital, at least 213,000 children are treated in hospital emergency rooms every year here in Texas and across the rest of the United States. Most of the kids seen in hospitals range in age from five to 12. They're often seen for injuries resulting from a fall. They often present with cuts or bruises, sprains and broken bones. Arms are the body part most commonly affected in these schoolyard incidents.

The authors of a report published by the Governors Highway Safety Association (GHSA) on July 16 sought to better understand how likely motorcyclists are to wear safety gear when operating their bikes. They initiated this study after determining that that high-visibility clothing makes it more likely that motorists will see them and thus less likely that they'll die in a crash.

When they delved into the topic of high-visibility gear, such as boots, jackets, boots, pants, helmets and gloves, the researchers found that motorcyclists, in general, have some type of aversion to wearing it. Most don't like how the pieces available on the market look.

Water parks, traveling carnivals and amusement park rides are all popular places for families during the warmest months in Texas. Since the kids are off from school, it is easier than usual to pack your family up and go spend a day hitting up some water slides or roller coasters.

Although these trips can be a source of treasured family memories and a great break from the monotony of summer months out of school, they can also be a source of both severe physical injuries and emotional trauma to children. Part of what makes amusement parks and carnival rides so thrilling is the sense of controlled danger they produce.