Teen drivers are inexperienced and still learning about the ways of the road, which can lead them to make mistakes that can cause a Texas driving accident. Without years of driving experience, teen drivers may lack the requisite caution to avoid negligent driving actions like texting while driving, running red lights, and failing to use their turn signals.
Drivers on busy Texas highways like Interstate 35 West, Interstate 635, and U.S. Route 75 should be wary of teen drivers that can exhibit negligent behavior and cause teen driving accidents.
Drivers involved in Texas teen driving accidents can experience economic and non-economic damages like medical bills, lost earning potential, and loss of enjoyment of life. In some cases, the teen driver’s parents can be liable for damages, as they still share responsibility for their child’s wrongful actions.
Texas Teen Driving Accident Statistics
Teen drivers can be some of the most dangerous drivers on the road and cause car accidents through inexperience. According to the Centers for Disease for Disease Control (CDC), about 2,800 teens ages 13-19 were killed, and 227,000 were injured in driving accidents in 2020. Multiple teens died, and hundreds were injured daily because of motor vehicle accidents.
This issue with injuries and wrongful death for teen drivers also occurred in Texas, where teen drivers are at particular risk of car accidents. According to the Automobile Association of America (AAA), there were more teen driver car accident deaths in Texas than in any other state between 2010 and 2019. Texas had 2,318 teen driver motor vehicle accident deaths during that period, with 30% happening during the summertime.
How Can a Teen Driver Cause a Texas Car Accident?
Car accidents involving teen drivers occur because of mistakes behind the wheel from teen drivers. Without years of experience driving, they may not realize the mistakes they are making that can lead to a car accident. Young people may be less cautious than older, more mature drivers who know negligent driving can cause a car accident.
Teen drivers are more likely to be distracted than older drivers, as they can text, talk on the phone, or engage in lively conversations while driving. They may also have less familiarity with Texas roads, as they have just begun driving. This lack of experience can lead them to not properly adjust their speed or way of driving based on how different roads, streets, and highways operate.
The following are some common causes of Texas teen driving accidents:
- Distracted driving
- Speeding
- Reckless driving
- Failing to use turn signals
- Running red lights and stops signs
- Failing to obey traffic control signals at intersections
- Not observing the right-of-way
- Tailgating
Holding a Parent Accountable for Their Child’s Negligent Driving
In most cases, teen drivers just starting out will drive in their parent’s car and receive insurance coverage from their parent’s insurance plan. For this reason, when a teen driver causes a car accident, their parent can be held liable in a car accident claim.
A parent can be held liable for their teen’s reckless driving behavior because of “negligent entrustment of a vehicle.” This means that the driver of the vehicle that committed the negligent action was allowed to drive the car through the car owner’s approval.
In this case, the car owner is the parent of the teen who caused the accident. Parents are still legally responsible for their children while they are dependents and can share liability in a car accident claim.
Who is Liable If the Teen Driver Was in the Car Without Their Parents’ Permission?
Teen drivers can sometimes rebel against their parents and use their vehicles without asking permission. During their rebellious ride, they may commit negligent driving behavior that can cause a car accident.
In this case, the parent can still be held liable because the teen driver has implied permission to use the car due to using it multiple times in the past. Their parent’s insurance coverage still applies to the car, and the victim can file a car accident claim with the parent’s insurance provider.
Proving a Parent’s Liability for Their Teen’s Car Accident
For a teen driving car accident victim to recover compensation for car accident damages, they will have to file a car accident claim with the parent’s insurance company. Recovering compensation for damages like medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering requires them to prove the at-fault party’s liability.
They will have to prove the teen driver’s negligence caused the car accident, they suffered damages and car accident injuries as a result, and the parent still shares responsibility for their child. Some evidence that can help prove a Texas teen car accident is video evidence, photos from the scene of the accident, medical records, police reports, insurance statements, witness testimonies, etc.
Should You Hire a Texas Car Accident Lawyer for Your Teen Driver Accident Claim?
Following a car accident, a victim may be unsure of what steps to take to recover compensation for economic and non-economic damages. The best way to recover compensatory damages is to hire a car accident lawyer. An experienced car accident lawyer will have handled many different car accident claims processes before, including those involving teen drivers.
They will be able to advise you on the best steps to take to maximize your chances of recovering compensatory damages. Some ways they can help are calculating your damages, determining who can be held liable, collecting evidence, and negotiating a settlement. A Texas car accident lawyer can also explain Texas car accident and teen driving accident laws that can apply to your case.
Contact The Russo Firm for Help With Your Texas Teen Driver Accident Claim
The Texas car accident lawyers at The Russo Firm have experience helping victims of teen driving accidents recover compensation for damages that affect their health, household income, and quality of life.
We understand how car accidents can affect your physical health and cause emotional and mental issues, and we wish to help you recover fair compensatory damages. Contact us for a free Texas teen driving accident consultation at (561) 270-0913 or leave a message on our online contact page.
