(702) 857-6000Have You Talked to Your Teen About Underage DUI?
This month, a Las Vegas teen was arrested for driving under the influence after a crash in the southwest Las Vegas valley. Tragically, the crash resulted in the death of a motorcycle rider. Driving under the influence is dangerous for everyone. It is especially dangerous for teens. Have you talked to your teen about underage DUI?
Below we will provide information on Nevada’s Teenage DUIs as well as tips to help you talk to your teen about teenage DUIs. While this discussion focuses on alcohol, please keep in mind that drugs and medication can also impair your teen’s driving ability.
We hope the below information helps protect you and your teen on the road. If an impaired teen driver injures you or a loved one, contact an experienced personal injury lawyer. A personal injury lawyer will help to protect your rights and ensure you receive maximum compensation.
As a Las Vegas accident victim, you don’t want to fight alone against insurance companies. They do not have your best interests in mind. Anthem Injury Lawyers has a dedicated team of lawyers and staff ready to help you with your personal injury case. Insurance companies and other parties are not interested in helping you receive what you should as a victim in a Las Vegas drunk driving accident. You need an experienced car accident lawyer to put you in the best position to get the compensation you deserve as an accident victim. Our lawyers have over 25 years of experience winning top compensation for Las Vegas car accident victims. This translates to a superior track record of success for our clients. They benefitted from the Anthem Injury Lawyers’ advantage, and so can you: we can win you all the compensation you deserve as an accident victim.
Don’t wait to contact our Las Vegas car accident lawyers. Time is of the essence when pursuing compensation in car accident cases. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
Impaired Driving by the Numbers
In Nevada, impaired driving is the number one cause of motor vehicle crashes, injuries, and fatalities. Impaired driving is dangerous for everyone. It is also one of the most preventable dangerous driving behaviors. How dangerous is impaired driving? Consider the following impaired driving numbers from Teen Driver Source:
- In 2019, 24 percent of young drivers (ages 15-20) involved in fatal crashes had blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) of .01 g/dL or higher. Additionally, 82 percent of those young drivers who had alcohol in their systems had BACs of .08 g/dL or higher.
- In 2019, 17 percent of high school students nationwide reported riding with a driver who had been drinking alcohol at least once during the past month.
- In 2019, 5 percent of high school students nationwide reported driving after drinking alcohol at least once during the past month.
- Teens who drink underage or who ride with impaired drivers are more likely to drive impaired themselves.
Impaired drivers are dangerous for everyone on the road. If an impaired teen driver injures you or a loved one, contact an experienced Las Vegas personal injury lawyer. Anthem Injury Lawyers offer a track record of winning top compensation in drunk driving cases. We have experienced car accident attorneys who are ready to help you win top compensation as a Las Vegas car accident victim. Don’t wait: our attorneys will immediately begin working for you so you have the best opportunity to win significant compensation. Now is the right time to contact our experienced car accident lawyers. Call (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
Nevada Laws on Teenage DUIs
Consuming alcohol is illegal for those under 21 years of age. Thus, the standard for DUI is much stricter for drivers under 21 years of age. Nevada Revised Statute (NRS) 483.462 makes it illegal for drivers under 21 years of age to drive in Nevada with a BAC of .02 or higher. Additionally, under NRS 484C.350, underage DUI offenders may have to be evaluated for an alcohol or other substance use disorder.
Talk to Your Teen About Underage DUI
Talking to your teen can be one of the best ways to prevent teenage DUIs. It can also potentially save the life of your teen and others on the road. Remember, to talk to your teen often. One conversation is never enough. Below are tips for talking to your teen about teenage DUIs.
Create an Open Dialogue
Having regular and continual conversations with your teen about drinking is a great first step to preventing an underage DUI. How can you create an open dialogue? Use some of the below tips for talking with your teen:
- Encourage conversation
- Ask open-ended questions
- Control your emotions
- Respect your child’s viewpoint
Talk About Alcohol
Now that you know how to have conversations with your teen, what are you going to talk about? One good topic is alcohol. Alcohol is glamorized in the media and is treated differently in every home. Alcohol can be dangerous for teens, even if they are not behind the wheel of a car. Teen alcohol use can lead to many problems, including the following:
- Sexual activity
- School problems
- Alcoholism
- Violent crime
- Issues with friends and family
- Health problems
- Developmental problems
If you want your teen to avoid driving impaired, it is also important that your teen understand the impacts of alcohol on driving. Alcohol reduces the important skills you need to drive safely including the following;
- Judgment
- Vision
- Color distinction
- Reaction time
Discuss Consequences
When you talk with your teen, you should make your expectations clear about underage drinking and discuss the consequences. Presumably, an teenage DUI is not the only consequence your teen could face if they drink and drive. What other consequences could your teen face if they drink and drive? Discuss these consequences with your teen.
Create a Game Plan
During your conversations with your teen, you should create a game plan regarding underage drinking and driving. Even if your teen has good intentions, it can be easy for them to get caught up in the moment and make a bad decision. Creating a game plan for different scenarios can help your teen make smart decisions and potentially save their life. Some possible scenarios and game plans include the following:
- Your teen is at a party and is being pressured to drink. Practice saying “no” with your teen. If your teen wants to give a reason, help to think of some fun responses.
- Your teen is drunk and needs to get home. Remind them that driving is never an option. Discuss different ways your teen could get home safely such as calling you, using a rideshare, or asking a sober friend.
- Your teen is worried that their friend is going to drive drunk. Encourage your teen to get the keys from the driver and contact an adult. Remind them that saving a life is sometimes more important than saving their reputation.
- Your teen needs you but is embarrassed to ask for help. Alcohol is not the only danger your teen will face growing up. They may find themselves in other unsafe situations. If they are around their peers, they may be uncomfortable directly asking for help. Create a code with your teen so they can reach you at any time to have you pick them up. This code can be as simple as them texting a phrase like “I’m getting tired.”
Experienced Las Vegas Personal Injury Lawyers
We hope the above information helps you talk to your teen about teenage DUIs in Las Vegas. If an impaired teen driver injures you or a loved one, you should speak with an experienced personal injury lawyer. Some people wonder why they need a personal injury lawyer to help them. A personal injury lawyer will work aggressively to protect your rights and help you receive maximum compensation for your injuries.
Award-winning law firm Anthem Injury Lawyers is a team of experienced and dedicated personal injury lawyers. We are based in Henderson, Nevada, and serve clients throughout the Las Vegas area. When we say we offer personal injury law experience, we mean over 25 years of experience. This is the combination of knowledge and expertise you need to win significant compensation as a victim in a Las Vegas area car accident. Our decades of experience, our expertise, plus our deep familiarity with all aspects of Nevada law, give you a powerful advantage. Plus, you won’t have to worry about affordability—we don’t get paid unless we win your Las Vegas car accident case.
While you need to choose a Las Vegas car accident lawyer promptly, we recommend you do so with care. Your choice of a car accident lawyer is one of the most consequential decisions you will ever make. If you want the best car accident attorneys in Las Vegas fighting for you, you need to speak with Anthem Injury Lawyers. Tell us the details about your car accident case then have our proven Las Vegas car accident attorneys put you in the best position to win significant compensation. Contact Anthem Injury Lawyers today at (702) 857-6000 to make an appointment for a free consultation.
