Teen Driver Accident & Teen Driving Accident St. Louis
If you have been hit by a teen driver, or if your teenager was injured or killed due to their friend’s negligence, we can help.
For teenage drivers, the risk of being involved in a car accident among 16-19-year-olds is higher than among any other age group. In fact, a teen driver is 3.7 times more likely to be involved in a fatal auto accident than a driver that is 20 years or older.
The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. has more than 20 years of experience representing car accident victims in St. Louis. We understand how the age of the driver can impact a case.
If you or a loved one has been hit by a teen driver or if your teenage daughter or son was a passenger that was injured or killed because of a friend’s recklessness, we can help.
Car Accidents and Inexperienced Drivers
There is a reason why teenagers have higher insurance premiums. They are inexperienced at driving and tend to have inferior judgment and lower impulse control. In addition, the increasing amount of distractions due to technology has not helped reduce the rate of teen driving accidents.
Teen drivers are more likely to speed and to become distracted by their phones or friends. They are also less likely to wear their seat belts in comparison to older, more experienced drivers. Teenagers are also at a higher risk of intoxicated or impaired driving due to the use of alcohol, marijuana, or other drugs.
Because teenagers are more likely to text or use their cellphone while behind the wheel, our lawyers take great care in reviewing phone records and witness statements in these types of cases.
The sad result of so many of these types of car accidents cases is that teenagers not only injure or kill themselves, but they injure other drivers or pedestrians as well.
Teen Auto Accidents and Liability
Every driver in Missouri must have car insurance with a certain amount of coverage. While the majority of teens are covered by their parents’ insurance policy, the parents themselves will likely not be liable for injuries or damage that results from their teen’s accident.
An experienced St. Louis auto accident attorney can help you determine who is liable for any injuries you suffer due to a teen drivers recklessness or negligent driving.
Contact a St. Louis Car Accident Attorney
If you or a loved one have been involved in a car accident caused by a negligent teen driver, or if your son or daughter was a passenger that was injured or killed because of a friend’s reckless driving, contact The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can even contact us after hours to discuss your auto accident case.
Call us today at (314) 361-4242 or fill out our online contact form to request a Free Consultation. Our St. Louis law firm is dedicated to getting the maximum compensation for injury victims in Missouri and Illinois. After a serious injury or the loss of a loved one in a car accident, you need to know that someone is on your side, protecting your rights and presenting an effective case to the insurance company. Without a strong advocate, you may not receive the financial compensation you need and deserve after being hit by a teen driver.
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Vicarious Liability and St. Louis Teen Driver Accidents
If your teen driver is involved in an auto accident, who is held liable for the damage and injuries?
Having your teenager drive alongside you is one thing; turning the keys loose and letting them go out on their own is another thing altogether. Teen driver accidents happen because they often lack the skills, experience, and maturity to make the right decisions.
You can’t always control what your teen driver does when they are behind the wheel but if you talk to them about the responsibility involved in driving an automobile, it might encourage them to make sound decisions. However, on top of worrying about your teen’s safety, there are other factors that you have to be concerned with regarding Missouri’s insurance laws and liability.
Add Your Teen to Your Insurance Policy
Once your child gets their license, you should add them to your insurance policy. If you let someone drive your car and they are in an accident and found to be at fault, then the owner of the car is responsible for paying for the accident due to vicarious liability. Vicarious liability covers any driver who has permission to drive another person’s car if they are in an accident. So even if they are driving with just a permit, you as the car owner will be held liable due to vicarious liability.
Typically, if you are held liable for vicarious liability, then your insurance company will pay for the injuries and damages resulting from the accident – but there are stipulations. If someone is in your house and shares the same address, if you do not specifically name them on your car insurance policy as a driver, then your insurance company might deny them coverage. Depending on your insurance policy, that may apply whether they are driving on a permit, or they have a license and are driving without you. It is, therefore, a good idea to call your carrier and ask them if your child should be on your policy even before they have their license.
Liable Due to Vicarious Liability?
If you haven’t listed your teenager on your insurance and they are in an accident, then vicarious liability would likely still apply. If your insurance company denies them coverage, since they are a minor, the liability to pay for all the resulting damages and injuries would likely be on you. If your insurance company will not cover your teen because they weren’t specifically listed, then you may be leaving yourself open to being sued in court.
Speak With a Car Accident Lawyer 24/7
If your teen was in a car accident in Missouri, it is important to speak with an experienced car accident attorney to protect not just them, but yourself. It is great when teens finally gain some freedom, but when it comes to cars and driving, that freedom can add up to major liability issues if you don’t tackle them ahead of time. To speak with an experienced St. Louis car accident lawyer 24/7 call The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. at (314) 361-4242.
