It can be scary for a teen to cause an accident and distressing for the parents involved. You deserve to know what steps you can take and what rights your family has. Working with a Michigan car accident lawyer can help you determine the best step to take next for the best potential outcome.
What to Consider When Evaluating Damages
When determining potential damages after an accident caused by a teen driver, document all monetary expenses related to injuries and property damage. This includes medical bills, costs for therapy and rehabilitation, lost income if missing work, and car repair or replacement costs. Keep detailed receipts and records to further prove your statements.
Also consider less quantifiable damages like pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of consortium for family members, and effects on quality of life. These non-economic damages can significantly increase the value of a claim. A teen driver accident attorney in Michigan can help estimate their worth.
Additionally, examine whether the teen driver’s actions were exceptionally reckless, like drunk or distracted driving. If gross negligence can be proven, you may potentially seek punitive damages as a way to punish and deter misconduct. However, punitive damages are not awarded in every case.
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When Parental Liability Is Applied in Michigan
In Michigan, parents may be liable for damages caused by their minor’s negligence. The amount of damages can be substantial and depends on the specifics of each case. For parental liability to apply, the child must live with the parents.
Parents may avoid liability if they can prove they made reasonable efforts to control or properly supervise the child. Simply having restrictions like a graduated license or established driving rules is not enough. The parents’ efforts must show intent to reasonably discipline and supervise the teen’s conduct.
It is important for parents of teen drivers to consult an attorney if their child was at fault in an accident. They can evaluate liability factors like negligence, damages, and previous supervision efforts to determine if the parents may be exempt. Proper legal advice is key to avoiding unnecessary liability.
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When the Teen Does Not Have a License or Insurance
If an unlicensed or uninsured teen driver causes an accident in Michigan, they are still liable for any injuries and damages. Their license status and insurance coverage do not affect liability. While recovering directly from the teen may have challenges, victims can still prove fault. An attorney can help file a claim under the victim’s own uninsured motorist policy if needed.
Similarly, a teen driver’s lack of insurance does not absolve them of responsibility. Michigan’s tort liability laws allow accident victims to sue uninsured drivers for compensation. The at-fault teen driver can be compelled to pay damages from their own assets absent insurance coverage.
However, suing an uninsured teen driver directly may have limited recovery if they lack substantial assets. Consulting an attorney can help determine the best approach, which may involve filing a claim under your own policy’s uninsured motorist coverage. But the teen’s liability can still be proven with the help of a Michigan teen driver accident attorney
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Common Causes of Car Accidents Involving New Drivers
Inexperience and lack of skill are major factors in teen driver accidents. They may improperly judge gaps in traffic, vehicle distances, or struggle with a lack of control while maneuvering. Distractions like other teens in the car or cell phones also contribute to accidents because of limited experience handling diversions.
Speeding and aggressive driving habits also lead to teen crashes. Teen brains are still developing impulse control which can manifest in risky speeding. New drivers may also tailgate, make unsafe lane changes, or disregard traffic signs and signals.
Alcohol or drug impairment is another common cause of teen driver accidents, despite strict zero-tolerance laws. Teen tendencies toward risk-taking and peer pressure contribute to impaired driving incidents. Drowsy or fatigued driving is also a factor with new drivers’ irregular schedules and late-night driving.
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Common Injuries for Teen Driver Accidents
Whiplash and other soft tissue neck injuries are very common in teen crashes due to their inexperience in controlling impact forces. Sprains, strains, and fractures are also likely throughout the body if occupants are jolted forcefully. Traumatic brain and head injuries can occur if occupants’ heads strike interior vehicle surfaces.
More severe trauma like internal organ damage, spinal cord injuries, and amputations are possible in high-speed teen accidents. Teens’ bodies are still developing so injuries to growing bones and tissues can disrupt development. Lacerations from broken glass or collapsing metal are also prevalent in major crashes.
Teen accidents also often cause psychological trauma like anxiety, depression, PTSD, and delayed emotional development. The long recovery and lifestyle limitations from injuries sustained can negatively impact teens’ mental health. Ongoing counseling is often needed to process the psychological damage.
Benefits of Working with a Michigan Teen Driver Car Accident Attorney
Hiring a teen driver accident lawyer in Michigan can provide important benefits. You should not go through the process without someone with the knowledge needed on your side. Some of the benefits are the following:
- A thorough investigation of the accident to determine factors like speed, road conditions, distractions, and mechanical issues that may have contributed to the crash.
- Estimating the full scope of damages and losses to pursue fair compensation through settlement negotiations or personal injury litigation.
- Handling communication and complex legal processes to take the burden off the injured teen and family.
- Identifying all potential sources of compensation through insurance coverage analysis and asset investigation of liable parties.
It is helpful for your family to have legal representation. A lawyer can help families with their rights. You have a right to know your legal options throughout the claims process after a teen driver car accident.
Let a Michigan Teen Driver Accident Lawyer Help with Your Case
We know how devastating and confusing it can be when a teen driver causes an accident that injures others. Our firm is here to guide your family through the claims process in a compassionate way while pursuing fair compensation for victims. Contact our team for a free consultation to see what you should do next.
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