Teen Driver Car Accidents

Getting a driver’s license is an exciting milestone in many teenagers’ lives. Providence has several high schools and five colleges and universities, including Brown University and Providence College. This means that there are countless teen drivers on the road. While all drivers are expected to drive in a safe and reasonable manner, teen drivers often negligently fail to uphold this duty. Teen driver accidents are among the most common accidents, and they often cause significant injuries. If you sustained harm in an accident with a teen driver, you have the right to pursue damages, and you should consult a knowledgeable Providence car accident lawyer to develop a plan for seeking compensation. Attorney David Tapalian is proficient in handling teen driver accident cases and will work vigorously on your behalf to help you recover any damages that you may be owed.

There are a variety of factors that can contribute to teen driver accidents in Providence. Often, teen drivers simply lack experience in navigating the unusually laid out streets of Providence, or they may be unprepared for driving in winter weather or rain. Teen drivers are also more likely than other drivers to be distracted, especially by technology. Teen drivers also frequently travel at high rates of speed, which reduces their ability to react appropriately to situations that they encounter while driving.

Teen drivers, like all other licensed drivers, can be held accountable for any harm that they cause while driving. In Providence, most lawsuits seeking damages for injuries sustained in a teen driver accident proceed on the theory that the teen driver was negligent. Negligence has several elements, and you must prove each element to prevail in a negligence claim.

First, you must show that the teen driver owed you a duty of reasonable care. In most cases, the duty owed will be the duty to comply with the Rhode Island motor vehicle laws. You must then show that the teen driver breached the duty in some way. Police reports and eyewitness statements can help prove a breach of a duty, especially if the teen driver received a traffic citation. Once a breach of a duty is established, you must show that the breach proximately caused the accident. In other words, you must show that the accident would not have happened without the breach, and the accident was a foreseeable result of the breach. Finally, you must show that the accident caused you to suffer quantifiable damages. If you sustained damages due to a Providence teen driver accident, Attorney David Tapalian can gather the evidence needed to show that the teen driver should be held responsible for your harm.

Almost all car accidents cause property damage, and many cause injuries as well. If you were involved in a teen driver accident, you can seek compensation for the economic and noneconomic harm that you suffered due to the accident. Economic harm includes the cost of repairing your vehicle. It also includes compensation for any medical bills that you incurred in treating the injuries caused by the accident. Additionally, if you could not work due to injuries caused by the accident, you can seek damages for your lost wages.

Noneconomic damages often make up a large part of the total damages awarded. Noneconomic damages include damages for the pain and suffering that you experienced due to the accident. If you were married at the time of the accident, your husband or wife may be able to recover damages for the loss of your services and companionship as well.

All drivers in Providence must operate their vehicles safely and carefully, regardless of their age or experience level. Teen driver accidents are unfortunately very common and can result in substantial damages. If you were injured in a teen driver accident, you should retain a Providence attorney who is skilled in assisting injured parties in their pursuit of compensation from teen drivers. Attorney David Tapalian will work vigorously to help you recover any damages that you may be owed. Mr. Tapalian can be reached at 401-552-5000 or through the online form to set up a free and confidential consultation.