From the time that teens begin their driver’s education classes, the prohibition against drinking and driving is drilled into them. Some people just don’t listen though. That makes accident involvement of drinking drivers who are under the age of 21 particularly worrisome. According to the Pennsylvania DUI Association, nearly 30% of all driver fatalities in the 16-20 age group are alcohol related.
Teens Can Be Sentenced to Prison for Drunk Driving Accidents
Teens shouldn’t forget that Pennsylvania DUI laws also include driving under the influence of drugs or any combination of alcohol and drugs. A 2018 Easton incident led to the death of a 64-year-old pedestrian who was a registered nurse. The 19-year-old driver of the car that hit her was found to be under the influence of methamphetamine. She’s now serving a six-year prison term. In 2020, a 15-year-old driver was believed to be under the influence of alcohol when he crashed a vehicle and critically injured his 14-year-old passenger in Nockamixon Township. She was airlifted to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Drunken Teens are Accidents Waiting to Happen
Drivers who operate vehicles while under the influence are both physically and mentally impaired. Their reaction time is significantly slower, and their vision and judgment are also adversely affected. Couple those factors with a lack of driving experience and a drunken teen driver is a serious accident waiting to happen. Nobody should ever get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle in that condition.
Who is liable?
Aside from the intoxicated underage driver, other people or entities might also be held liable for damages suffered in a motor vehicle accident. If you were injured or lost a loved one at the hands of an underage driver who was operating a vehicle while under the influence anywhere in Pennsylvania, you probably have the right to pursue compensation even if you only have limited tort or no-fault insurance coverage.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Contact our offices right away after becoming the victim of any driver who was under the influence to arrange for a free and confidential consultation with an experienced lawyer from our offices. We want to know how the crash happened and how it has affected you. We promise to answer your questions truthfully too. After that, we can advise you on how we believe you should proceed. Your best interests are our sole consideration.
