A University of Pennsylvania study explored the experiences of 60 teenagers between ages 16 and 17. Those drivers had recently received a driver’s license and were put through a driving simulator to determine whether or not a diagnosis of ADHD made them more likely to be involved in an accident. Teens with ADHD were determined to be at higher risk for an accident. Teenage drivers are already likely to be hurt in critical accidents largely due to their lack of experience and greater willingness to take risks.

Teens with ADHD in the study who reported problems with hyperactivity, impulse control, and attention were more likely to have errors while using the simulator and were more likely to engage in risky behavior like not wearing a seatbelt or speeding. Since motor vehicle accidents are a leading of fatalities in teens, children who have difficulty paying attention are also more likely to engage in dangerous behavior such as distracted driving and using their cell phones.

If doctors and parents know that these children may be more likely to make mistakes on the roads, steps can be taken to try and prevent them such as modelling good behavior and the use of a teen driver contract which mandates how a driver can operate a car.

If you’ve already been in an accident with a teen who wasn’t paying attention, you’re likely buried in medical bills and unsure of how to get things back to normal. Too many accident victims find themselves in this situation. Options are available to get compensation if you’ve been hurt.