Teen Driver Car Accidents

Teenage drivers are not only inexperienced but also prone to distraction as well as speeding while behind the wheel. This combination makes the potential for collisions greater than that of any other age group. Teen drivers who cause significant injuries due to their careless actions can and should be held responsible for their behavior. Providence car accident attorney David Tapalian helps victims injured in teen driver accidents seek the compensation that they need for their injuries. With over 20 years of experience, he offers individualized legal representation so that car accident victims remain focused on healing. If you have been injured or lost a loved one due to a careless teen driver, contact our office to schedule a free, no-obligation consultation to determine your legal options.

Motor vehicle accidents are the leading cause of death among teenagers nationwide. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, over 2,000 teens are killed in traffic-related incidents each year, with over 200,000 others suffering injuries in collisions. Additionally, teen drivers contribute significantly to fatal accidents involving their passengers, as well as other motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians. Some common causes of teen driver accidents include:

• Texting and other types of distracting behavior;
• Speeding;
• Driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol; or
• Inexperience, leading to an inability to react quickly enough to conditions that develop suddenly on the road.

Any or all of these factors may be involved in a car accident involving a teen driver. A teenager who texts while drives or otherwise acts irresponsibly, leading to a collision, should be held liable for the harm that they cause.

Any negligent driver, of any age, is accountable for an accident if their actions have resulted in injuries to a victim. Negligence is present when a driver breaches their duty to act as a reasonable and prudent person would act under the circumstances. A victim must also show that the defendant’s breach was a proximate cause of their injuries and resulted in damages. For example, a teenage driver who is speeding through traffic and hits a pedestrian or another motorist may be seen as unreasonable and thus negligent.

If liability is shown, victims may be compensated for any past and future medical costs, loss of income, loss of earning capacity, pain and suffering, vehicle damage, and other losses. Since teenagers do not generally have assets to cover the costs of these damages, it may be difficult to recover compensation. However, Massachusetts and Rhode Island both require drivers to carry a minimum amount of personal injury protection (PIP) insurance coverage in order to account for problems created by a defendant’s financial status. When the policy limits are not adequate, a plaintiff may be able to pursue legal action against a teen’s parents after a crash if there is evidence that the parents were also negligent, either in entrusting the teenager with their vehicle or in supervising their actions.

Many times, teen driver accidents involve family members and friends of the teenager, which makes legal action to pursue the necessary financial assistance more complicated. Having a seasoned legal advocate on your side may help make sure that the process proceeds as smoothly as possible. Providence lawyer David Tapalian helps victims and their families at all stages of the litigation, from the gathering of evidence to negotiations and court proceedings. Our firm represents victims across Rhode Island and Massachusetts from offices in Providence and Seekonk. If you have been struck by a teen driver, and you have questions regarding your legal rights, contact us online or call us at (401) 552-5000 to speak with a motor vehicle collision lawyer about your case. We handle most of our cases on a contingency fee basis, which means that you do not need to pay us any fees unless we are able to obtain a settlement or a jury verdict for you.