A 17-year-old driver lost control of the car that he was driving and drove the vehicle straight into a neighbor’s pool. The accident occurred recently in the Forest Hills area. According to the police, Koree Stanton, 17, was driving a four door Chevy when he struck an empty Hyundai car on N. Ola Avenue and Country Club Drive around 7:00 p.m.
Mr. Stanton then drove away from the scene of the accident with minor injuries. He continued to drive recklessly when he smashed through a fence, a screened enclosure, and then launched his vehicle into a neighbor’s pool on N. Otis Drive. Mr. Stanton was uninjured after driving into the pool and crawled out of the water on his own. He waited for police and for his car to be towed out of the pool.
The Forest Hills police drove Mr. Stanton to a juvenile assessment center and charged him with reckless driving and leaving the scene of an accident with minor injuries. After assessing the scene of the accident, police estimate that there was at least $30,000 worth of damage to the neighbor’s property.
Teenage Driving Accidents
Motor vehicle accidents are the number one cause of death for teenagers across the country. The fatal crash rate for teens is four times higher than any other age group. In 2013, there were 963,000 car accidents nationwide involving teenage drivers that resulted in 383,000 injuries and 2,865 deaths.
Of the car accidents recorded nationally, Florida contributed significantly to the statistics. That same year, Florida reported 36,179 car accidents involving teenage drivers. Those accidents resulted in 103 fatalities 16,948 injuries of teenage drivers and passengers. Between 2012 and 2013 there was almost an 11 percent increase in the number of car accidents caused by teenagers in Florida. Counties that recorded the most teenage driving accidents include Broward, Duval, Hillsborough, Lee, Miami-Dade, Orange, Palm Beach, Pinellas, and Polk.
Common Causes of Teenage Driving Accidents
According to the research institute, Teen Driver Source, over 75 percent of accidents involving teenage drivers are caused by critical errors, including lack of scanning for potential hazards, going too fast for road conditions, and being distracted while driving. In fact, in 58 percent of accidents with teenage drivers, distraction was noted as one of the factors that caused the crash. These distractions can either come from inside or outside of the vehicle. Some common distractions include using a cell phone while driving, loud music, too many passengers, and more.
Contact Our Personal Injury Attorneys
Car accidents caused by teenagers can be devastating for all of the parties involved, especially when there is serious injury or death involved. At Reed & Reed, Attorneys at Law, our experienced personal injury attorneys are here to help. From our office in Brandon, we help clients in Tampa, New Tampa, Plant City, East Hillsborough County and throughout the state of Florida. Contact Reed & Reed for a free consultation.
