[05-13-2022] Napa County, CA – 5 Teens Injured After a Crash Involving an Underage Driver on Buhman Avenue

Five teens and an underage driver were injured following a traffic crash on Buhman Avenue on Wednesday night, April 13, 2022.

The accident transpired at approximately 9:10 p.m. north of Buhman Avenue and south of Congress Valley Road, near the Napa city limits.

A 15-year-old driving a 1992 Honda was speeding when she lost control of her vehicle and crashed into a tree.

Seven people were crammed inside the five-person vehicle. Six of the occupants in the Honda were injured and taken to Queen of the Valley Medical Center.

Five of the passengers were not wearing seat belts at the accident. They sustained varying degrees of injury and were taken to an area hospital for treatment.

Meanwhile, the 15-year-old driver sustained minor injuries. She does not have a license, and it’s unclear whether she has a permit, but underage drivers must have a 25-year-old guardian in the vehicle whenever they drive.

Local authorities are further investigating the case.

Reckless Driving Statistics

Vehicle Code 23103 defines reckless driving as “driving a motor vehicle in willful or wanton disregard for the safety of persons or property,” according to the state of California. People can be charged with reckless driving if they drive on a public roadway or in a private parking lot.

Driving aggressively or carelessly puts other people’s lives at risk, which is unnecessary. Because of someone else’s reckless driving, innocent people should not have to suffer. Drivers who engage in this type of reckless behavior should be held liable for the harm and injury they cause.

Traffic accidents in the United States are largely caused by aggressive driving, which leads to road rage and the deaths of many people each year. Aggressive driving is defined by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) as “an individual commits a series of moving traffic violations to put other persons or property at risk.”

More than 13,000 people are killed in major car accidents because of reckless driving each year. Speeding is to blame for 30 percent of all car accidents. Drunk driving is to blame for 40 percent of all fatal car accidents. About a quarter of all traffic fatalities and injuries result from distracted driving.

More than 33% of the 13,000 people who die each year in severe car accidents are caused by reckless drivers.

These accidents are usually caused by negligence. Reckless driving, tailgating, racing, and erratic driving are considered reckless driving. Using a cell phone while driving is a dangerous practice that all motorists should avoid.

Napa County Reckless Driving Lawyers

The legal principle of carelessness is used in most car accident proceedings. As a result, if you’re involved in a California reckless driving accident, your lawyer will seek to prove that the other driver was at blame by establishing intentional conduct or “negligence per se.” Intentional behavior, such as driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol, is higher in the risk of negative outcomes since the action is voluntary.

Because reckless driving is a violation of California’s vehicle code, another driver, passenger, or pedestrian who is injured may be able to establish liability in negligence per se because of this. Regardless of the circumstances, a professional California reckless driving accident lawyer is needed to successfully pursue a claim.

Having witnessed the devastating effects of vehicle accidents ourselves, our team from Arash Law wants nothing more than to encourage drivers to avoid them. Instead, we assist those who have been injured or lost a loved one in a car accident to receive compensation for their losses.

Our Napa County reckless driving accident attorneys from Arash Law can be a helpful legal advocates for traffic accident victims during this difficult time. To arrange a no-obligation consultation, please get in touch with us at (888) 488-1391.