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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.

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.



Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!

Free Consultation (314) 361-4242


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?

car keys being handed to a teen driver

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.

4 Tips for Teaching Your Teen To Drive Safe

a mother teaches her daughter to drive

Be Patient

First and foremost, it’s important to be patient. Learning to drive can be frustrating, and it’ll take time for your teen to get the hang of it. Everyone learns at their own pace.

Be prepared for a few bumps in the road (literally), and try to keep your cool when things don’t go as planned. Explain calmly what your teen did wrong and help them understand that making mistakes is part of the learning process. Patience and practice will go a long way in helping your teen to become a safe driver.

Start With the Basics

It can be tempting to try and teach your teenager everything at once when they start learning to drive. However, it’s important to remember that they’re new to this and need time to get comfortable behind the wheel.

For this reason, it’s best to start with the basics and slowly build up their skills. Some of the basics that you should focus on include teaching them how to control the car, how to park, and how to stop safely. Once they have mastered these skills, you can move on to more advanced topics such as parallel parking and driving in heavy traffic.

Practice in a Variety of Different Driving Conditions

As a parent, you may think that the best way to prepare your teen for driving is to let them practice in a quiet neighborhood with little traffic. However, it’s also important to give them the opportunity to practice in a variety of different conditions.

This means not just practicing on nice, sunny days. They should also get experience driving in rain, snow, at night, and even on busy highways. By giving them a chance to practice in a variety of different conditions, you’ll help them feel more confident and prepared when they’re out on the road.

Praise Good Driving

When your teen does something well, let them know! A little positive reinforcement can go a long way in boosting their confidence behind the wheel.

As a parent, it can be nerve-wracking to watch your teen behind the wheel for the first time. However, these simple tips can go a long way in helping them become a safe and responsible driver.



Free Consultation with a St. Louis Car Accident Lawyer

Don’t talk to an insurance claims adjuster before speaking with The Hoffmann Law Firm, L.L.C. We can help you avoid making statements that may affect the outcome of your case. The consultation is free; you don’t pay unless we get you money!

Free Consultation (314) 361-4242