Research has found that teenagers in Texas and throughout the United States go through bodily changes that make it more beneficial to wake up later in the day. It has also found that those between the ages of 13 and 18 need at least eight hours of sleep at night to function properly. Students who are not allowed to get enough quality rest could be more likely to make poor decisions while driving to school.
In 2015, schools in Fairfax County moved the start of the school day from 7:20 a.m. to 8:10 a.m. A study found that the accident rate among drivers between the ages of 16 and 18 dropped from 31.63 to 29.59 accidents per 1,000 drivers after the change was made. The start of the school day remained the same throughout the rest of Virginia where researchers noted that the accident rate remained steady among drivers between the ages of 16 and 18.
A professor from Harvard Medical School noted that injuries such as those caused in traffic accidents are the leading cause of death among younger Americans. When students are tired, they may increase their risk of getting hurt by taking actions such as not wearing a seat belt. They are also more likely to be distracted or take more time to react to what is happening around them.
Individuals who are hurt in car accidents involving tired or distracted drivers may wish to file a personal injury lawsuit. A lawsuit might make it possible to obtain compensation to pay for medical bills or make up for lost wages or lost future earnings. Attorneys may be able to help an accident victim gather and organize evidence such as photos or videos from a crash site so that it can be presented to a judge or jury.