Parents of Billings area teens know that their children do not always make the best decisions. Luckily, most of the time the bad decisions they do make do not get them into serious trouble. But occasionally a teen makes a poor decision that affects others. One such instance is when a teen driver engages in a distracting activity which can cause a serious car accident.
As parents of teens know, their child is easily influenced by other people. Although teen drivers may understand that distracted driving is dangerous, if there are other teens present, the risk of distracted driving goes up. There are other ways a teen driver can be distracted while driving besides having peer passengers. They can be distracted with eating, changing the radio station, putting on makeup, and, of course, their cell phone. Nearly 40% of teen drivers have admitted to texting or emailing while driving.
The mix of inexperienced drivers with distracting activities is a recipe for disaster on Billings area roads. In 2017, there were 60 fatal crashes in Montana attributed to distracted driving which made up 1/3 of all fatal crashes. Because Montana does not have any distracted driving laws, the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety have found Montana to be “dangerously behind” and gave the state a failing grade in safety.
If a person has been in an accident with a distracted driver, they may want to speak with a legal professional who is skilled in personal injury. An attorney can visit the accident scene and interview witnesses, review the police report and help determine what happened to cause the accident. Compensation may be available for medical expenses, pain and suffering, lost wages and other damages. A distracted driver can turn a family’s life upside down and it is important to hold them accountable for their mistake.
At Colton Holm Law Firm, we look forward to learning how we can help you resolve your legal concern.Call us today: (406) 259-9986