Teen Crash Rates Climb in Maine from Memorial Day to Labor Day
A car accident can change lives in an instant, but when a teenager is behind the wheel, the outcome can be especially tragic. Inexperienced decisions, high-risk behavior, and distractions too often lead to devastating consequences—not just for young drivers, but for everyone else on the road.
In Maine, teen driver crashes surge during the summer months, raising serious concerns for families, pedestrians, and other motorists. What makes this time of year so dangerous? Why are teen drivers involved in so many accidents? And if a teen causes your crash, who’s legally and financially responsible?
The Law Offices of Joe Bornstein breaks down what you need to know about teen driver accidents in Maine—and what to do if you or someone you love was hurt.
Teen Drivers Often Cause Serious Car Accidents
Every parent dreads the sound of tires screeching or a late-night phone call with bad news. But crashes involving teen drivers happen every summer, and too many families are left picking up the pieces.
According to the Maine Department of Transportation, drivers aged 16 to 20 are disproportionately involved in accidents, contributing significantly to the rising crash rates observed in recent years by the Maine Transportation Safety Coalition. Consider these startling statistics:
- In Maine, one out of every five drivers aged 16 or 17 is involved in an accident each year. That’s four times higher than the average accident rate for all drivers.
- Nearly 40 percent of all car accidents in Maine involve young drivers between the ages of 16 and 24.
- Roughly 10 percent of Maine’s population is 16 to 24 years old, but they’re responsible for nearly 25 percent of car accident injuries that require hospitalization.
And compared to other states, Maine teen drivers are on the higher end when it comes to traffic fatalities caused by younger drivers (15 to 20 years old), according to a study conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). In particular, in 2022, these young Maine drivers were responsible for 12.6 percent of all traffic fatalities statewide, regardless of age.
What Are the "100 Deadliest Days"?
Like the rest of the nation, younger drivers in Maine are more likely to be involved in accidents during the summer, according to News Center Maine. This is why AAA in Maine refers to the period between Memorial Day and Labor Day as the “100 Deadliest Days,” due to the high number of accidents that occur during this time, especially collisions involving teen drivers.
In 2023, nationwide, teen drivers were involved in accidents that resulted in 2,897 traffic fatalities. A third of those deaths, 860, happened during the 100 Deadliest Days, according to the most recent AAA accident data.
“Summer months are particularly dangerous as more young drivers hit the road during school breaks with many logging more unsupervised driving time than usual,” Jake Nelson, Director of Traffic Safety Advocacy and Research at AAA, said recently.
Common Causes of Teen Driver Accidents
Several factors contribute to the high rate of accidents among teen drivers, including:
- Inexperience: New drivers often lack the skills to recognize and respond to hazardous situations.
- Distractions: Use of mobile devices, loud music, and conversations with passengers can divert attention from the road. This is especially true when other teenagers are in the vehicle. Young drivers are easily distracted.
- Speeding: Teens may underestimate the dangers of speeding, which can lead to loss of control and severe accidents.
- Impaired Driving: Despite legal restrictions, some teens engage in driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs. That's why drunk driving accidents are so common among young drivers.
- Seat Belt Non-Use: Failure to wear seatbelts increases the risk of injury or death in a crash, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (IIHS).
Who’s financially responsible when a teen causes a crash in Maine?
In Maine, parents or legal guardians are often on the hook when a teenager causes a serious car accident. That’s because state law requires adults to sign off on a teen’s driver’s license application and agree to accept legal responsibility for any damages the teen causes while driving. If the teenager is still living at home, the family’s auto insurance usually applies.
But many cases aren’t that simple. Some teens drive cars owned by friends or relatives. Others borrow vehicles without permission. Liability can shift depending on who owns the vehicle, whose name is on the insurance policy, and how the crash happened.
If you're injured, it’s critical to uncover every possible source of compensation. An experienced Maine car accident attorney can investigate the crash, review policy language, and hold the right parties accountable — whether it’s a negligent teen, their parents, or an insurance company trying to dodge responsibility.
You shouldn’t have to bear the consequences—physically, emotionally, or financially—because of someone else’s inexperience. Unfortunately, insurance companies often make it harder than it should be to recover what you’re truly owed.
Empowering young drivers to make safer choices
At the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein, we believe in both prevention and justice. That’s why we sponsor the Arrive Alive Creative Contest, an annual competition for graduating Maine high school seniors.
This statewide contest gives students a platform to speak directly to their peers about the dangers of distracted and impaired driving. Past entries have included short films, spoken word pieces, animations, artwork, essays, and even original board games.
Winners receive a new laptop, and all participants earn prizes. More importantly, they help raise awareness among young drivers at one of the most dangerous times of the year: the 100 Deadliest Days.
To learn more or view past entries, visit www.arrivealivecreativecontest.com.
Get a Maine car accident lawyer who gets results
Teen driver accidents are a serious concern in Maine. Understanding the risks, legal responsibilities, and steps to take after an accident can help families make informed decisions, enabling them to demand the compensation they deserve.
The experienced Maine car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Joe Bornstein can help you every step of the way, from investigating your accident to negotiating with insurance companies for the best possible outcome.
Our settlements and verdicts speak for themselves, including a $6 million settlement in one car accident case.
Learn more about your legal options. Contact us to schedule a free case evaluation with a Maine car accident lawyer. We have seven offices located throughout Maine. We also work on a contingency fee basis. That means you pay nothing unless we secure a financial settlement or verdict on your behalf.
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