What happened:
A new study by AAA Foundation found that one in seven drivers in North Carolina are on the roads without a license – and most of those driver aren’t insured. In 2012, the North Carolina Highway Patrol cited about 47,000 people for driving without a license.
The study found that drivers without a license were five times more likely to cause an accident, many times because they are driving under the influence. Twenty-one percent of N.C. fatal accidents were caused by an unlicensed driver. AAA also found that adults between the ages of 21 to 34 were the highest population of those driving with a suspended or revoked license.
A spokesperson for the organization said that one of the reasons for the high numbers is because North Carolina is one of the most lenient states when it comes to penalizing unlicensed drivers. A citation and maybe a fine is the typical punishment.
The North Carolina Injury Lawyer Perspective:
A nationwide study the foundation did in 2011 found that 18.2 percent of deadly crashes nationwide involve an unlicensed driver and also found that in fifty percent of hit and run accidents, the driver was unlicensed.
And as this study found, a driver without a license usually means a driver without insurance. Our firm has published a report that can help answer questions you may have if you’ve been in an accident caused by driver without insurance.
AAA Foundation, Washington DC
Helpful Info:
To learn about what types of damages are available through a personal injury claim, take a moment to read this article which discusses the possibility of obtaining damages to compensate for medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering.
Have Questions?
FAQs on what to do if you’ve suffered a serious injury in an accident.