Having a new driver’s license is every teenager’s dream and every parent’s nightmare. Teenagers aged 16-19 have the highest crash risk of all drivers on the road . The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that in 2019, 2,400 teens aged 13-19 died in car accidents and another 258,000 were treated in hospital emergency rooms for crash-related injuries. The top three risk factors for a teen driver becoming involved in an accident are:

  • Being male. Males have double the risk of a fatal accident as females.
  • Driving with passengers who are also teens.
  • Being newly-licensed. The risk of a car crash is highest the first few months after a crash.

Two of these risks are completely unpreventable. Many parents who have experienced the misfortune of having their teen involved in an accident have asked us if they are liable for damages. The answer is yes. Back when you signed the form at the DMV allowing your child to obtain a driver’s license, you agreed to be financially responsible for any accidents that they cause. This form remains in effect until the child reaches 18, the parent revokes the form, or the child is married.

A teen driver is held to the same level of responsibility as an adult in an accident. This means that if the teen’s negligence is the cause of the accident, and the accident causes more than $10,000 worth of medical bills and/or lost wages for the opposing party, the opposing party can make a claim for you to pay for their medical bills, medications, therapies or rehabilitation, lost wages, and depending on the severity of the injuries, pain and suffering.

If you added your teen to your insurance policy when they received their and you have bodily injury liability coverage, the likelihood is that the opposing party will come to a settlement with your insurance company rather than suing you. If your teen is not insured or if you do not have bodily injury liability coverage, contact a personal injury attorney to seek advice on how to handle this situation.

Even for the most cautious drivers, teen-aged or any-aged, sometimes accidents are unavoidable. If your teen was involved in an accident, and you feel that they have been unjustly found at-fault and you are concerned about your liability, call the Boca Raton car accident experts – Rader Law Group. We will investigate the details of the situation and advise of the best course of action to protect yourself.

Rader Law Group, LLC

With decades and decades combined experience, the attorneys at Rader Law Group understand the meaning of Justice. Our one and only mission is to get each client the justice he or she deserves; our team of attorneys never back down when we know our client is right.
We offer our clients the compassion and guidance they need as they work through trying times in their lives. The balance of working relentlessly for our clients combined with our caring approach has helped us achieve a fantastic record of success with our clients. We get our clients the justice they deserve.

At Rader Law Group, You matter. Your justice matters. Your Justice Starts Here. 954-913-2273.

References Used:
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teen Drivers: Get the Facts | Motor Vehicle Safety | CDC Injury Center. Accessed April 7, 2022.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teen Drivers: Get the Facts | Motor Vehicle Safety | CDC Injury Center. Accessed April 7, 2022.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Teen Drivers: Get the Facts | Motor Vehicle Safety | CDC Injury Center. Accessed April 7, 2022.