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Learn Which Vehicles Are the Safest Choices for Your California Teen Driver

It can be difficult to be the parent of a teenage driver. You know that your teen does not have the experience an older driver does. You might also know that young drivers are much more likely to be involved in car accidents. Worse, they are also more likely to be involved in a fatal car accident than an older driver.

As a parent, there is only so much you can do. You can teach your children to drive safely, ensure they know how important it is to drive safely, and install one of many apps that helps you monitor their driving. You can also buy the safest car possible so that if they do get into an accident, they will be more likely to survive with few injuries.

What Not to Get Your Teen Driver

First, let us discuss what the least safe vehicles are. You do not want to give your teen a sports car as it might encourage them to speed, and speed is a factor in nearly half of fatal car accidents. Likewise, you do not want to give them a luxury sedan that might be harder to navigate, or an SUV that is more likely than other vehicles to rollover. Only one in five teens has a brand-new vehicle, so that is not necessary.

Factors That Make a Vehicle Safer

The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS) releases a list every year that outlines the safest used cars for teens. They take into account factors such as durability, the distance required to brake in dry conditions, reliability, and how often insurance claims are made against a vehicle.

Further, they consider that a heavier vehicle is safer, that higher horsepower vehicles can encourage teens to drive unsafely, that vehicles with electronic safety control help teens maintain control of their car, and that ratings by the National Highway Safety Administration are good guidelines.

The Three Safest Cars for Teen Drivers

According to the list, there are three vehicles that can be bought for less than $20,000 and are safer for teens than other vehicles. They are a 2013 or newer Subaru Outback, a 2019 or newer Toyota Corolla Hatchback, and a 2017 or newer Nissan Rogue. All three of these vehicles won a top safety pick from the IIHS and NHTSA.

Call an Attorney if Your Teen is Involved in a Car Accident

If your teen is injured in a car accident in which someone else was at fault, the first thing to do is make sure that they are safe and that they receive the medical attention they need. Then you should contact an attorney to ensure their rights are upheld. Contact Law Offices of Fernando D. Vargas at 909-982-0707 to learn about personal injury options.