Teen Driving Accidents in Victorville
It is known as the Sweet 16 for a reason: it is the age that most teenagers get their driver’s license. Of course, they must first hold an instruction permit, complete driver education, and pass the test. Nonetheless, it is a significant moment in a teen’s life. Unfortunately, all the testing and classroom learning can never fully prepare a teenager for all the risks and responsibilities on the road, and teenagers may also be more impulsive than adults. Combine all that with a moving vehicle, and it is a recipe for a potential crash with another car.
The seasoned auto wreck lawyers at Walter Clark Legal Group have experience dealing with teen driving accidents in Victorville. They could provide legal assistance if you have been in a car collision with a teenage driver. Our compassionate attorneys could work to achieve a fair outcome for you and seek appropriate compensation for your losses without causing unnecessary stress.
Causes of Teen Driving Collisions
Teen driving accidents are caused by many of the same reasons adults get into vehicle collisions in Victorville, such as failure to follow traffic laws or reckless driving. But teenagers are in a unique position because of their youth which brings slightly different risks on the road.
The first and most obvious is inexperience. A newly licensed driver has only their instruction permit hours behind the wheel and likely has not had to confront all the dangers of the road. A young driver has not developed the awareness to recognize and react to dangerous conditions or unexpected situations. It takes years to build these driving skills but a teenager without those skills is more likely to cause a collision.
Teenagers grow up in a seemingly permanently connected world and likely feel that they need to always have their phones on hand. Unfortunately, texting or checking social media while driving takes the teenager’s attention away from the road and a higher risk of causing an accident.
Part of the joy of a teenager’s new freedom brought by their driver’s license is to drive around with their friends. But chatting with friends is a distraction from their driving and makes them more likely to cause a collision.
Teenagers tend to be more impulsive and likely to partake in risky behavior such as drinking. This could be exacerbated by peer pressure to consume alcohol. Drinking and driving is dangerous for even experienced drivers, but for a teenager, it could be more serious because they do not understand the consequences or how alcohol affects their body and mind.
Parental Liability for Teen Accidents
Establishing fault for a teenage car accident is much the same as a collision between adults. The fault lies with the driver whose actions were negligent or reckless and caused the accident. A teenager could be at fault for an accident caused by distracted driving in the same way an adult could be liable.
Besides the teenage driver, California Vehicle Code § 17708, could impose liability on their parents. Under the Code, if a teenager causes a wreck while driving a motor vehicle with permission from their parents, then the parents could also be held liable for damages caused by the accident. A Victorville teen driving car crash attorney could review the facts of the collision and help determine all parties who could be held liable.
Contact a Victorville Lawyer After a Crash With a Teenager
The car accident lawyers at Walter Clark Legal Group could help with teen driving accidents in Victorville. If you have been involved in a car crash caused by a teenage driver, call an attorney to discuss your legal options.
A dedicated vehicle collision lawyer could help you get compensation for damages caused by a teenage motorist. Get in touch with us today to get started.