Teenage drivers are, statistically, more dangerous than adult drivers. They’re also more at risk. The fatal crash risk for teen drivers is nearly three times that of drivers aged 20 and older. Some of the reasons for the increased risk are obvious, including the simple fact that teen drivers typically have less experience than their older counterparts. Another is brain development. While different teens obviously mature at different rates, the part of the brain that governs risk management and impulse control isn’t fully developed in a teenager.
Teens are also on average more subject to distraction than older drivers. Having a single peer passenger in the car doubles the risk of a fatal collision for a teenage driver, and a larger group can increase the risk by as much as six times. In addition, various studies have shown that teenage drivers are more likely to speed and tend to leave less space between their vehicle and the one in front of them. Male teens are especially prone to higher speeds–in one recent year, 35% of teenage males involved in fatal crashes were speeding.
Due to these and other factors, teen drivers make up only about 3.8% of all licensed drivers, but 8.8% of drivers involved in crashes and 6.8% of drivers involved in fatal crashes.
If you’ve been injured in an accident with a teenage driver, you should speak with an experienced teen driver accident attorney right away. While many elements of a car accident case are the same regardless of the age of the driver, there are some special considerations you should be aware of before considering a settlement offer. One key consideration is the possibility of parental responsibility for a teen driver’s accident.
Attorney Kevin Broderick has extensive experience with car accident and other personal injury cases in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire. To learn more about how the Broderick Law Firm can help, call us today at 978-459-3085. The initial consultation is free and there’s no obligation.
In both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, teenage drivers are required to carry motor vehicle insurance just like older drivers. The teen may be added to their parents’ policy or purchase their own. Some states require a parent or other responsible adult to sign a document accepting liability for damage caused by a teenage driver before the teen is issued a driver’s license. However, neither Massachusetts or New Hampshire uses this system.
The first step is to consider liability in exactly the same way you would for any other car accident. For a driver to be liable for a motor vehicle accident, they must have had a duty to the other driver or accident victim. They must have failed to live up to that duty, and their failure must have caused or significantly contributed to the collision and the other party’s injuries.
Drivers on both Massachusetts and New Hampshire roads have a general duty to operate their vehicles in a manner that is reasonably safe for others on the road, and for others’ property. The most common causes of teen driving accidents are similar to the causes of crashes involving older drivers:
When a teen is responsible for an accident, compensation for damages typically comes from their auto insurance carrier. That’s true whether they have their own policy or are on their parents’ policy. In both Massachusetts and New Hampshire, auto insurance follows the vehicle, not the driver. That means if the teenager is driving someone else’s car with their permission, the owner’s insurance will be the primary insurance coverage. The car owner typically isn’t personally responsible for damages, but there are exceptions.
Though neither Massachusetts nor New Hampshire automatically makes a parent liable for a teen driver’s accident, sometimes a parent is liable–especially if the teenager is driving the parents’ car.
If a parent allows the teenager to drive their car knowing that the young driver doesn’t have the experience for the trip, isn’t prepared to handle driving solo responsibly, or otherwise puts a risky teen driver on the road, they may be liable for negligent entrustment of the vehicle. That concept can apply to other vehicle owners as well, such as a friend who loans a car to a drunk driver. However, when the vehicle owner is a young driver’s parent, they have a greater responsibility to know whether it is safe to loan their child the vehicle.
If you’ve been injured in an accident with a teen driver who was negligent or simply too inexperienced to be driving in the conditions surrounding the accident. Your car accident lawyer will help identify all possible responsible parties to ensure that you don’t miss out on full compensation because you left someone out.
Your teen driving accident lawyer can also help you avoid insurance company tactics designed to reduce your recovery, gather evidence, negotiate with the insurance company, hire and work with experts as needed, and manage all other aspects of your claim while you rest and recover. To learn more, call us right now and schedule a free consultation.
Let Attorney Kevin Broderick answer your questions and evaluate your personal injury or vehicle accident case for free!
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