Teenage drivers may engage in unsafe behaviors because of their inexperience with driving and lack of understanding of the risks of certain driving behaviors, such as texting while driving. As such, personal injury cases involving a teen driver may be approached differently than an adult driver of legal age.
A Chicago teen drivers accident lawyer may help you understand who might be held responsible for your losses and pursue awards from those who are at fault for your accident.
Call the Kryder Law Group, LLC, today for details about how our team may represent you or your loved one after an auto accident involving a teen driver.
Teen Drivers May Pose Abnormal Risk to You and Others
Teenage drivers account for a disproportionate amount of deadly accidents in the United States, according to the Insurance Information Institute (III). In 2017, people aged 15 to 20 accounted for only 5.4 percent of all drivers, yet were responsible for eight percent of motorists involved in fatal traffic accidents.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) notes that teen drivers are the age group at the highest risk of being in an accident and are three times more likely than older drivers to be in a deadly accident. Speeding, alcohol use, and inexperience are among the leading causes of danger when it comes to teen accidents.
In 2018, Illinois young motorists aged 16 to 19 accounted for eight percent of auto injuries and 4.6 percent of traffic deaths, according to the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT).
Why Teenagers Are More Likely to Cause Accidents
There may be several reasons why teenage drivers could be prone to causing car crashes resulting in injury or accidental death. A teen driver may be more likely to be involved in auto accidents because they:
Have significantly less experience driving a motor vehicle than older drivers so are more likely to make poor decisions leading to driving accidents
Have limited experience dealing with inclement weather and other dangerous driving conditions
Fail to completely understand the reality that an accident occurs in almost any situation
Engage in distracted driving, such as driving while texting or doing other things on cell phones, talking with passengers, selecting music, or eating and drinking
Fail to fully grasp the consequences of high-risk teen driving behaviors, such as speeding or racing
Being young does not give adolescent drivers a pass for causing injury or death to other drivers in a car crash. They and possibly other parties, such as their parents, may be held liable for injuries suffered by you or your loved one.
Liability for a Teen Driving Accident
Teen drivers in Illinois are required to have the same minimum insurance policy requirements as older drivers under Illinois law. According to the IDOT, these minimum requirements include:
$50,000 in bodily injury coverage per accident, and $25,000 per person involved in an accident
$20,000 in property damage coverage per accident
The IDOT states that teen drivers may generally be included on their parents’ existing auto insurance policies. It is up to the parents to determine how much coverage their teen driver will have in the event of a motor vehicle accident. After your auto accident, your losses may or may not be completely covered by a teen driver’s insurance coverage.
Why You Might File a Lawsuit for a Teen Driver Accident
You and your lawyer may explore the possibility of filing a lawsuit if the teen driver’s insurance does not cover your losses.
Under certain circumstances, the parent may be held liable for the damage their teenager caused, such as if the teen was driving their vehicle at the command of their parents to run an errand.
Learn more about how a Chicago teen drivers car accident lawyer can help you pursue compensation by calling the Kryder Law Group, LLC, today. You can speak with a team member of our law firm in a free consultation about your case.
What to Do After a Car Accident with a Teen Driver
If you are involved in an auto accident with a teen driver, there are certain steps you should take to protect yourself and your case.
First, make sure you and any passengers are safe and seek medical attention if necessary.
Next, collect information from the teen driver, including their name, contact information, and insurance company information.
File a police report to help preserve evidence.
Take pictures and video of the accident scene if possible.
Then, contact The Kryder Law Group to speak with our auto accident attorneys to discuss your legal options and help you get the compensation you deserve.
Car Accidents Cause Economic and Non-Economic Losses
Whether a teen or adult motorist causes your accident, being involved in motor vehicle accidents can lead to serious losses. If you or a loved one were injured in a teen driving accident, you may be dealing with multiple financial, emotional, and physical damages. These damages may include:
Being unable to work and unable to earn a living as you did before your injury
Mental health problems, such as depression, anxiety, and other deficits related to your accident
Scarring and other forms of physical disfigurement
Permanent disability, which may include loss of physical and cognitive abilities
A reduced earning power once you are able to return to work
You may also experience several financial costs related directly to your accident. These costs may relate to vehicle damage, emergency medical care, hospitalization, lost wages, rehabilitation, medical treatment, or other medical bills.
If your vehicle was damaged, you may be entitled to compensation for the cost of a rental vehicle or alternative forms of transportation until your vehicle is repaired or replaced.
Common Injuries from a Car Crash Caused by Inexperienced Drivers
One reason teenage drivers are more likely to get in an accident is because they are inexperienced drivers. They may not know how to handle a car in certain situations, which can lead to accidents. Particularly when the weather turns cold, a young driver may be dealing with snow and ice for the very first time.
Additionally, younger drivers may be more likely to take risks and drive recklessly, which can also lead to teen driving accidents. We often see these types of injuries in car accidents involving young people:
Whiplash and injuries to the spinal cord
Traumatic brain injuries
Knee and leg injuries
Head injuries
Abdomen and back injuries
Foot injuries
Contusions and lacerations
If you have been injured in an accident caused by a teenage driver, you may be entitled to compensation. Our team of experienced Chicago car accident lawyers can help you get the recovery you deserve. Our law firm will use our experience with teen driving accidents to help get the maximum compensation for you.
A Lawyer Can Fight for Fair Compensation
A lawyer may take legal steps to seek compensation for your losses. Some of the duties your lawyer may perform on your behalf include:
Investigating the scene of your accident
Reconstructing your accident, perhaps with help from experts
Gathering evidence
Interviewing witnesses to your accident
Filing your lawsuit or insurance claim
Defending your rights
Guiding you throughout the legal or insurance process
Negotiating a settlement
Taking all other steps necessary to resolve your claim or lawsuit
Hiring a lawyer to fight for you may relieve you of the burden of bringing an insurance claim or lawsuit on your own. Our teen driver car accident lawyers can also negotiate with insurance companies on your behalf to get you the best possible settlement.
If you’ve been involved in a car crash involving a teen driver, don’t wait to contact an experienced car accident attorney. Call our office today.
Get Help Today
Teen drivers can cause severe injuries, just as any motorist can when they do not practice safe driving. A Chicago teen drivers car accident lawyer can help you seek compensation after an accident caused by a teen driver, whether through an insurance claim or lawsuit.
Call The Kryder Law Group, LLC, today for a free legal consultation.
What You Can Expect from Our Chicago Teen Driver Car Accident Lawyers
The teen driver accident lawyers at our firm understand that when you’re injured, the last thing you want to do is go through the legal process. That’s why we take care of everything for you. We will handle all communication with the insurance company and negotiate on your behalf to get you the best possible settlement.
We will also file a lawsuit on your behalf if necessary and fight for you in court.
Our teen driver car accident lawyers are here to help victims and their families in recovering compensation they deserve for their injuries. If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, contact us today for a free consultation.
We will give you a free review your case and advise you of your legal options. We will also answer any questions you have about the process and help you get started on the road to recovery.
What You Get in Your Free Case Evaluation
If you’ve been hurt in a car accident caused by an inexperienced adolescent driver, you should contact a lawyer right away for a free consultation. An experienced Chicago automobile accident lawyer can help you get the compensation you deserve for your injuries.
When you call The Kryder Law Group, you can speak to an experienced attorney and we’ll do the following in your free consultation:
We will evaluate your situation and determine how much money you are entitled to receive.
We will also go over how severe your injuries are and whether specialists are required.
We’ll give you an idea of how long the case will take to resolve, as well as to answer any questions you have about car accidents or the legal process.
Contact our office today for a free case review. We represent seriously injured people throughout the Chicagoland area including Cook County, Lake County, Kane County, and DuPage County.
You have nothing to lose. We work on a contingency fee basis, so we only get paid if you win your case and recover compensation.
(312) 223-1700