Car Accidents Involving Teen Drivers Surge Between Memorial Day and Labor Day
Teen drivers in Texas face their most dangerous stretch of the year during summer break. Between Memorial Day and Labor Day — the period known as the “100 Deadliest Days” — fatal crashes involving teen drivers spike sharply.
Between 2019 and 2023, 13,135 people died in crashes involving teen drivers across the U.S. Texas alone accounted for 1,463 of those deaths — more than 11% of the national total. According to AAA, over 30% of all annual teen driver fatalities occur during this three-month window.
That staggering figure highlights the danger of teen driving on Texas roads. The combination of more free time, less supervision, and riskier behavior on the road makes summer break a deadly season for young drivers — and a heartbreaking one for families.
Why Summer Is So Dangerous for Teen Drivers
Texas roads are already among the busiest in the country, and summer only adds to the chaos. With school out, more teenagers are behind the wheel at all hours of the day and night. Whether they're heading to a summer job, a friend’s house, or just out for a joyride, teen drivers are logging significantly more miles — and they’re doing it with less structure and more distractions.
Law enforcement agencies across Texas and Oklahoma have repeatedly pointed out that teen-involved crashes during summer often share similar patterns: lack of seat belt use, distracted driving (especially texting), speeding, alcohol use, and multiple passengers in the vehicle. Add inexperience behind the wheel, and it becomes clear why this time of year is so deadly for teen drivers.
Common Summer Crash Scenarios Involving Teen Drivers
In the aftermath of a serious crash, car accident attorneys frequently encounter the same types of scenarios tied to summertime wrecks involving teenagers. For example, 60% of all teen crashes involve some form of distraction, according to AAA. Other factors include:
- Texting or using social media while driving
- Driving with multiple teen passengers and no adult supervision
- Speeding on rural roads or highways with light traffic
- Running red lights or stop signs due to inattention or peer pressure
- Driving late at night with limited visibility and increased fatigue
- Failing to yield when merging or turning at intersections
- Driving under the influence of alcohol, marijuana, or other substances
- Taking unfamiliar routes without GPS preparation or awareness of local hazards
These behaviors not only put the teen driver at risk but also endanger passengers, other drivers, and pedestrians.
Preventing Teen Driving Tragedies: What Parents Can Do
Families understandably want to give their teens independence, but summer driving needs boundaries. Parents and guardians can take proactive steps to reduce the chance of their teen being involved in a serious or fatal crash. Some of the most effective safety measures are simple, but they require consistency and communication.
Before summer starts — or even mid-season if needed — parents can implement key safety rules like the following:
- Vehicle Safety Features: Cars with backup cameras, automatic braking, and crash detection features can provide an added layer of protection. If a teen is driving the family car, consider activating features that limit speed or block phone use while driving.
- Daily Check-Ins: Require teens to text or call before leaving and upon arriving at their destination. This fosters accountability and helps caregivers monitor how often and when teens are driving.
- Enforce Passenger Limits: Texas law restricts newly licensed drivers from carrying more than one non-family passenger under 21 for the first 12 months after obtaining their license. Following this rule greatly reduces distractions.
- Set a Curfew: Many teen crashes happen late at night or early in the morning. A firm driving curfew — especially on weekends — can prevent impulsive decisions when visibility is low and traffic enforcement is less active.
These preventive measures can lower the risk of tragedy and may also help minimize liability in the event of a crash. In serious injury cases, parents are sometimes drawn into legal proceedings based on vehicle ownership or alleged failure to supervise.
When Teenagers Are the Victims, Not the Cause
Not every crash involving a teen driver is their fault. In many cases, teens are the ones hurt due to someone else’s reckless or negligent actions—whether they’re hit by an impaired driver, struck at an intersection, or injured as a passenger in a friend’s car.
At Hoover Rogers Law, LLP, our car accident lawyers represent teen victims just like we do adults. Whether your child was driving responsibly and got T-boned by a distracted driver, or was riding in a vehicle where another person made a dangerous choice, they deserve strong legal support and full compensation.
These cases can get complicated. Parents may face confusing insurance questions, medical bills, and uncertainty about who is liable. We step in to protect your teen’s future, uncover all sources of coverage, and handle the legal process so your family can focus on recovery.
Legal Options After a Teen-Involved Crash
When a serious crash happens, families may be left reeling, dealing with physical injuries, emotional trauma, and financial fallout all at once. Whether a teen was hurt in a crash caused by someone else, or another driver was seriously injured in a collision involving a young driver, there are often legal questions that demand swift answers.
A knowledgeable car accident attorney in Wichita Falls or Lawton can help navigate these cases, gathering evidence, working with investigators, and pushing back against insurance companies that try to minimize claims. In cases involving catastrophic injury or wrongful death, timing is critical. Legal deadlines in Texas and Oklahoma can limit how long a family has to take action.
Hoover Rogers Law, LLP offers free consultations for car accident victims and their families. If a loved one was seriously injured in a crash, don’t wait. The earlier legal support is secured, the stronger the chances of recovering the compensation needed for medical bills, ongoing care, and financial stability. Contact us today.
"I had a great experience with Ben Hoover. He was very professional, very responsive, and maintained excellent communication throughout the entire process of my case. I would highly recommend Hoover Rogers Law to anyone needing legal representation." - Jeff S., ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐