Teaching your teenager to drive is a nerve-racking rite of passage for teens and adults alike. They learn the rules of the road while you guide them to handle a vehicle safely. Proper driver education can significantly reduce the risk of auto accidents.
No one wants to have an accident, but they happen every day, even to law-abiding drivers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), teens aged 16 to 19 are more at risk of being in a car wreck than any age group. The experience itself can leave anyone shaken and overwhelmed, no matter the age. You do not want your teen to have to face the legal ramifications of failing to handle the aftermath of a car accident correctly. Give them clear instructions for how to conduct themselves when they are on the road independently, and what to do if an accident does occur.
Teen Auto Accident Checklist
Try not to panic. It is normal to feel frightened and anxious after an automobile accident. Take a deep breath, remain at the scene, and check yourself and other parties for injuries. Do not admit to any fault or express guilt, as it could be used against you later.
Call the police. Report your emergency by calling 911 along with your location. If you are in an unfamiliar area, describe street signs, businesses, and other landmarks. Specify any injuries sustained so that emergency medical services can be dispatched.
Exchange and collect information. Exchange driver’s license information and auto insurance policies with the other party or parties involved. Make notes on paper or in your phone describing the location, which direction each car was traveling, the weather conditions, the other driver’s behavior, and the names and information of any witnesses on the scene. You will also want to save the name of the police officer who tends to the accident along with their badge number.
Take pictures of the scene. Take clear photos of each car using wide shots that include license plate numbers in the frame. Take close-up views of vehicle damage, including airbags that deployed, and make sure to document any tire skid marks, along with the traffic signs and signals on the street, road, highway, or intersection.
Call your parents. They will want to know that you are ok. They may also need to help you report the accident to your auto insurance company.
Call the Tenge Law Firm, LLC. Older drivers tend to assume that teen drivers are at fault. Do not allow the other driver, or even the police, to bully you into taking the blame. Do not apologize under pressure from adults. Call on legal counsel from Boulder car accident lawyers so that we can navigate the aftermath and the insurance companies for you.
Why Should I Hire the Tenge Law Firm, LLC? Offices in Denver, Boulder, and Fort Collins
We have been representing victims of car accidents for over 30 years. Our attorneys will investigate the police report, stay on top of the insurance companies, and help you get the medical appointments you need in the wake of your accident. Our legal expertise is second to none when negotiating with big-time insurance companies who are notorious for minimizing payouts to injured parties. At the Tenge Law Firm, LLC, we work hard for our clients’ physical and financial recoveries. Contact our Boulder office at (303) 665-2929 in order to schedule a consultation with one of our experienced car accident attorneys.