Young driver

Every year the Rhode Island Department of Health updates its statistics on auto accidents and prepares a strategic plan to improve traffic safety throughout the state. According to the Department’s most recent Injury Prevention Plan, car crashes are the number one cause of death for children, teenagers, and young adults between the ages of five and twenty-four.

A review of the statistics shows that young drivers are “disproportionately affected by unintentional motor vehicle crashes.” In fact, young drivers visit the emergency room and are hospitalized at a much higher rate than other age groups. In addition, drivers between the ages of fifteen and twenty-four are almost twice as likely to be the victim of a fatal auto accident.

Young driver drinking alcohol while drivingThe Department identified activities like drinking alcohol, not wearing a seat belt, and distracted driving as serious risk factors. In order to mitigate these factors, Rhode Island has focused on policy changes and stricter enforcement. One such change is the stricter seat belt policy that was passed in 2011 and took effect in 2013.

This new primary seat belt law allows law enforcement officers to issue a citation even if no other traffic laws have been violated. The state also plans to reduce accidents related to drinking alcohol and distracted driving by raising awareness of the serious dangers posed by these activities.

What Will You Do After an Auto Accident?

Young driver in a car accidentCar accidents will always be a reality despite government efforts to reduce them because people make mistakes. These mistakes occur when drivers text instead of paying attention to the road or when drivers change lanes without looking over their shoulder. These types of accidents will always be a risk so it is important to know what you will do if you are involved in one. After ensuring everyone is safe and swapping contact information, you should contact a personal injury law firm as soon as possible.

Young driver after a car accident

An experienced lawyer can provide the help you need to get the compensation you deserve. In these situations, injured individuals do not know their legal rights and may settle for less than they deserve. A lawyer will be able to advise you regarding the legal effect of your personal injuries and property damage while protecting your rights against the insurance company.

Attorney Paul d’Oliveira stated, “As a native Rhode Islander, I have dedicated my career to helping injured people throughout the state get the legal help they need. We have experienced legal staff who can talk to you about your injuries and we offer free, no obligation legal consultations. It can be difficult to get the money you need to cover your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering from big insurance companies but our lawyers will work quickly to negotiate a fair settlement.”

Car Accident Lawyer talking to young driverThe law firm of d’Oliveira & Associates has been helping injured individuals for over 30 years and it has fifteen office locations located in two states. Feel free to contact the firm by phone or contact form to setup a free, no obligation legal consultation.

Source:

  1. http://www.health.ri.gov/publications/plans/2013InjuryPrevention.pdf
Author Photo

Paul d’Oliveira

Attorney Paul d’Oliveira has been practicing personal injury and disability law for over 30 years. He started his personal injury law practice in 1989 with two offices in Fall River, MA and East Providence, RI. Today his firm has 16 offices in RI and Southeastern, MA.

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