Car accidents occur daily across the United States. Nationally, there are roughly 40,000 fatal accidents in any given year, with many more accidents leading to property damage and serious injuries.
Statistically speaking, teen drivers pose the greatest risk when it comes to fatal accident rates. They often make mistakes behind the wheel, causing serious crashes. Tragically, some of these drivers lose their lives, while others cause the deaths of other drivers, passengers, pedestrians, cyclists, motorcyclists and more.
But why do teenagers specifically have such a high fatal accident rate? One critical factor to consider is the process of brain development.
The prefrontal cortex
Neuroscientists have found that a person’s prefrontal cortex doesn’t fully develop until around 25 or 26 years old. This is considered the point at which adult brain development is complete. Teen drivers do not yet have fully developed brains and won’t for approximately a decade after they begin driving.
This is especially important in the context of car accidents because of the role the prefrontal cortex plays. It is responsible for decision-making and assessing risks. Those with an underdeveloped prefrontal cortex are more likely to make immature or impulsive decisions, and they are less likely to fully comprehend the risks to themselves or others.
This is part of the reason people often say that teenagers think they are invincible. While they technically understand that they aren’t, their brains don’t assess risk accurately, which can lead to serious driving errors and accidents.
If you’ve been injured in one of these accidents or have lost a loved one, make sure you know how to seek financial compensation.