What A Teenager Should Do After A Car Accident
Every driver can get into a car accident. However, some drivers are more likely to get involved in a collision than others. Teenage drivers are among the drivers most at risk of being involved in a car accident. According to the CDC, the risk of motor vehicle accidents is the highest among teenagers aged between 16 and 19. The CDC estimates that teenagers between the age of 16 and 19 have a fatal accident rate almost three times as high as motorists aged 20 and above.
Because of the prevalence of motor vehicle accidents among teenagers, parents need to teach their children about road safety. It is also crucial for parents to prepare their children for what to do in case they get into an accident. Below, we share some crash prevention tips for teenagers and the steps to take after a car accident.
Crash Prevention Tips for Teenagers
According to the CDC, some of the factors that put teen drivers at risk include;
- Inexperience
- Nighttime and weekend driving
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Drunk driving
Considering the above, the following are the main things that can help prevent teen crashes;
- Avoiding drunk driving
- Avoiding distracted driving
- Following posted speed limits
- Avoiding driving at night whenever possible
Limiting the number of young passengers for the first few months of unsupervised driving can also help prevent teen crashes. Having passengers in the vehicle can increase the risk of a collision when the teen driver becomes distracted by talking to them. The driver could also become distracted by looking at something on a passenger’s phone.
Steps To Take After a Car Accident: For Teens
Teenagers should know that, after a car accident, their safety is the highest priority. After a car accident, the teen should move the car to a safe place, if possible. If moving the vehicle is impossible, the teen should turn on the hazard lights and call the police. Regardless of the severity of the collision, it is crucial to call the police.
Gathering information from the other involved party is another crucial step. Details that should be collected from the other party include name, address, insurance information, contact number, and license plate number. After gathering information, the police can help with verifying its authenticity.
Another crucial step for teenagers to take after a car accident is to take pictures of the accident scene for documentation purposes, if possible. Compensation can be sought if another party’s negligence is to blame for a teen crash, and photos taken at the accident scene can serve as crucial evidence in a compensation claim.
Finally, teenagers need to avoid admitting fault after a car accident, even if they think they are to blame. This includes avoiding apologizing. Immediately after a car accident, it is usually not clear what happened. It’s best to let attorneys, the police, and investigators do their job before making conclusions. Admissions of guilt can be presented in court and used to deny or devalue a claim.
Legal Help Is Available
Our Orlando personal injury attorneys at The Pendas Law Firm can help after a teen crash. We have years of experience helping car accident victims and their families recover the compensation they deserve.
The Pendas Law Firm also represents clients in the Bradenton, West Palm Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Miami, Tampa, Jacksonville, Daytona Beach, Fort Myers, Ocala, Naples, and Melbourne areas.
Source:
cdc.gov/transportationsafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html#:~:text=The%20risk%20of%20motor%20vehicle%20crashes%20is%20higher%20among%20teens%20ages%2016%E2%80%9319%20than%20among%20any%20other%20age%20group.%20Teen%20drivers%20in%20this%20age%20group%20have%20a%20fatal%20crash%20rate%20almost%20three%20times%20as
