What Do do if Your Teenage Driver is in an Auto Accident

When your teenager starts to drive, parents can experience conflicting emotions. Your child is gaining freedom and independence, and you will no longer need to be the chauffeur. But that additional freedom for your child can be accompanied by difficulty letting go and the fear that your child could be hurt in a car accident.

Fortunately, you can take proactive steps to protect your child and minimize the likelihood that they are injured in a serious car crash. And if they are in a car accident, you can protect your child and yourself by ensuring they are included on the family auto insurance policy.

Teen Driver Auto Accident Statistics

In 2021, there were 483,132 licensed drivers aged 15-20 in Michigan, representing 6.7% of Michigan drivers. They were involved in 10.7% of all crashes and 9.6% of all fatal crashes.

According to Michigan’s Office of Highway Safety Planning, 9,224 drivers in this age group were involved in motor vehicle crashes, representing 12.9% of all crash injuries.

Young people generally had a higher incidence of speeding, failure to yield, and an inability to stop in an assured clear distance. They also had higher rates of collision with a ditch and hitting a tree and were less likely to be alone in their car at the time of the crash.

This age group's most common hazardous driving action was driving too fast, representing 19.8% of the total.

Teenagers accounted for 5.5% of all pedestrians killed in Michigan and 11.1% of all pedestrian injuries.

Teenage Driver Accidents

Young drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in car accidents than older, more experienced drivers. Due to their lack of skills and experience, teen drivers are more likely to drive in an unsafe manner, drive at excessive speeds, and drive while texting or under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Because of these statistics, parents need to know what to do if their teen driver is involved in a car accident.

Seek Medical Treatment

After a car accident, your teen should seek medical treatment. Even if your child says they are fine, you should still have them seen by a doctor. Injuries after a car accident often take hours or even days to appear. A doctor can rule out a concussion, internal bleeding, or other serious medical conditions or treat these conditions if necessary. By seeking medical treatment quickly, you minimize the likelihood of your child suffering severe injuries.

Gather the Information to Make an Insurance Claim

You’ll also want to be sure your child has access to the police report and other important documents about the car accident. They should have information about the other driver, including their name, phone number, insurance information, and any witnesses to the accident. Your child should know to call the police after a car accident, and the police report will contain this information.

Contact Muth Law for Help After a Teenage Driver Auto Accident

If your teen was injured in a Michigan car accident, Muth Law can help. We have been representing families in personal injury claims for more than 35 years, and we have the experience, resources, and expertise to evaluate your case and fight for the compensation your family deserves.

We will collect the evidence necessary to present your claim in a way that is most favorable to you. We will work to protect your rights, offer advice, and maximize your financial compensation.

Based in Ann Arbor, Muth Law proudly works with people in Ypsilanti, Ann Arbor, Washtenaw County, and throughout Michigan. We handle car accident injury cases on a contingency fee, which means you will never pay us a fee unless we recover money for you.

To learn more, contact Muth Law to schedule a confidential, no-cost consultation to discuss your situation and how we can help. Call us anytime at 743-481-8800, email infoa@muthlawpc.com, or complete our online form.

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