Handling a car accident may be frustrating and overwhelming, especially for young drivers. Parental guidance is highly advised when dealing with teen car accidents. You must remind your teen driver to keep calm when hit by another driver and wait for police enforcement to arrive at the accident scene.
Sometimes, the other driver may take advantage of your teen’s inexperience in dealing with vehicle collisions. That is why it is essential to know what to do when your teenager has a car accident.
What Happens If A Teen Driver Is Hit By A Car?
Your teenager is most likely swamped and confused after being hit by another vehicle. In most cases, they commit actions that negatively impact their case, such as:
Admitting Fault Of The Accident
Usually, other drivers use your teen’s inexperience to their advantage. Since they are more knowledgeable and authoritative, they can pressure your teen into admitting fault for the accident, even if that is not the case. To refrain from making this mistake, remind your young driver to:
- Remain calm
When your child feels overwhelmed, they are more likely to say anything to defend themselves. When doing so, they may give information that will jeopardize their teen car accident claim.
- Do not apologize for the damages of the accident
Under any circumstance, your teen driver should never apologize for the accident. The other party may use this as proof that they admitted fault in the car crash. When this happens, you can’t claim compensation for the damages. Instead, you will have to pay the other driver, regardless of who is responsible for the accident.
- Do not blame the other driver
Blaming the other driver will heighten the emotions of both parties. This may escalate to a further conflict that may put your teen in harm’s way. It is best to call law enforcement immediately after the accident and let them resolve the issue.
Leaving the Scene of The Accident
Sometimes, young drivers panic and flee the scene of the accident. Doing this makes them more likely to appear accountable for the car crash. Ensure that your child stays at the location of the incident and waits for authorities to respond and arrive.
They are allowed to leave the scene of the accident if (and only if) the crash resulted in property damage only and they comply with the following duties:
- Notify the other driver of the incident when the vehicle is parked.
- Exchange information with the other driver, including full name, residential address, contact number, driver’s license number, and insurance provider details.
- Report the teen car accident to police enforcement immediately.
When your teen takes responsibility for their duty of care to other parties involved in the crash, they are more likely to prove themselves innocent of the car accident.
Not Taking Necessary Evidence At The Scene of The Accident
You can’t pursue a car accident claim if you do not have evidence to support your case. This is why it is essential to remind your teen to stay at the accident scene and gather evidence as much as they can.
Pieces of evidence that can help build your case include:
- photos of the damages and the accident scene,
- videos of the accident through your dash camera,
- surveillance or CCTV footage within the area, and
- witness testimony.
When gathering evidence, remember that these documents should tell the story of the accident. So make sure that you take all possible angles when capturing the accident.
Can Insurance Cover Teenager Drivers?
When an underage driver causes an accident, the parents are responsible for covering the damages. If you include your teen driver in your car insurance policy, they will have the same protection that you do. So, when they are involved in a car accident, they will be covered by your policy limits.
You may also opt to purchase separate insurance coverage for them. However, this may be more expensive since new drivers have higher rates. This is because they are more prone to car accidents due to their lack of experience on the road.
In the event that the other driver’s negligence caused the teen car accident, you may pursue a case against them. When you do this, you may claim restitution from the vehicle collision.
Moreover, you may use your underinsured or uninsured motorist coverage if the at-fault driver has limited or no insurance to cover the damages.
An injury lawyer can help you prove the other party’s liability by gathering evidence and understanding the nature of your case. They will also communicate with the other driver when determining their policy limits.
What To Do When Teen car accidentr Has A Car Accident
In case your child is involved in a teen car accident, you can help them by:
- Keeping them calm after the car crash;
- Ensuring that they seek medical attention immediately;
- Letting them call 911 promptly;
- Gathering necessary evidence;
- Reporting the vehicle collision to police officers;
- Cooperating with law enforcement;
- Seeking legal guidance from teen car accident experts.
The other party’s insurance provider will always try to reduce the compensation value or not pay you at all by using the following strategies:
- Pressuring your teen to admit fault for the accident;
- Arguing that there is no evidence to support your claim;
- Saying that your teen was distracted while driving; or
- Intimidating your teen and insisting on accepting an initial settlement offer.
When encountering these challenges, you must reach out to an accident lawyer to help defend your case.
Larry H. Parker has credible teen car accident attorneys who can aid in proving your claim, calculating the total damages, and fighting for your rights. Let us know how we can help you by contacting us at 866-854-6407 or requesting a free legal consultation. We want to hear from you today!
