Teens have always had a bad reputation for reckless driving. But there is now a report from the American Automobile Association (AAA) that tech-savvy young millennial drivers are engaging in the riskiest driving behavior of any age group.

The report, which surveys more than 2,500 drivers 16-years-old and older, finds that 88 percent of drivers between the ages of 19 and 24 admitted to exhibiting at least one risky driving act in the last 30 days. These include speeding, running red lights or using a smart phone while driving.

This report follows another one from the National Safety Council that points out there was 40,200 motor vehicle deaths in 2016 in the United States. This is a 6 percent increase from deaths in 2015, which was a year with the biggest increase in deaths in 50 years with a 7 percent increase over 2014.

The uptick in vehicle-related deaths is attributed to the rise in distracted driving related to smartphones. Texting while driving has reached what some consider epidemic levels - those ages 19-24-years-old were 1.6 times likelier than other drivers to read a text message or email while driving.  While talking and texting on a mobile device has also impacted these numbers among younger drivers, the abundance of technology included in the controls of modern vehicles (maps, complicated sound systems, Blue Tooth devices) is also contributing factor.   

When situations arise where there is suspicion of distracted driving causing an accident, it is a wise idea to seek legal advice as soon as possible after the crash. While insurance money may be forthcoming, it doesn't always cover the cost of replacement or all the costs in medical recovery, including copays, time away from work and ongoing treatment.