Teen Auto Accidents In Maryland Hope To Be Curbed By Car Cameras
A recent Washington Post article has highlighted the growing popularity of car cameras that keep tabs on teen drivers – and the cameras in question are available free of charge to Southern Maryland families. The program, which was created in response to the increased problem with teen fatalities due to Maryland auto accidents, was funded by the Maryland Highway Administration and installs cameras that capture in-car and external activity while a teen is driving. Video is streamed to the DriveCam offices and parents are informed of video postings.
The thought behind the teen cams? Encourage safe driving with an in-car monitor when parents are unable to drive with a teen. But will the cameras really help teen drivers? Signs point to yes, since the cameras are triggered by high-force events such as sudden braking. The efficacy of the program will have to be tested over time, however, and its final outcome is not yet known.
Regardless of the camera’s usefulness for some Southern Maryland drivers, the sad fact remains – teen drivers can pose a real hazard to others on the road. Luckily, the civil court system allows personal injury victims to seek restitution and compensation for car accidents.
Meng & Alpert has represented several individuals who have been permanently injured by teen drivers in car accidents in Maryland and recently obtained six-figure settlements for clients who were struck head-on by youthful offenders in Southern Maryland. Though it can be easy to brush off teen crashes as part of the natural driving learning curve, it’s a price the victims of serious car accidents shouldn’t bear on their own. As is the case with all drivers, teens should be taken to task for their mistakes, especially when they threaten lives and cause life-long disability or the need for continuing medical treatment and medical expenses.
