In the United States, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers. Teenagers are more likely than adults to get into car accidents. If you or your loved one have been injured in a teen driving accident, you may be wondering what your options are for pursuing compensation. You may have a claim for compensation for your injuries and other damages caused by the car accident.
The attorneys at Ceja Law Firm PLLC have extensive experience representing victims of teen driving accidents in Houston. After reviewing your case with you, we can help you understand your legal options. You may have a valid legal claim to recover compensation for your injuries and other damages from the car accident. For example, you may be able to recover your medical costs, lost income, and payment for your pain and suffering. Contact Ceja Law Firm PLLC today to schedule your free initial consultation.
Reasons Teen Drivers Cause More Car Accidents Than Adults
According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the fatal crash rate per mile for 16-19-year-old drivers is nearly three times the rate for drivers aged 20 and older. The crash risk is substantially higher when teenage drivers drive while intoxicated. Teenagers also make more insurance claims for car accidents than adults due to inexperience, poor choices, and driver distraction.
Due to teenage drivers’ immaturity and inexperience, they’re more likely to make mistakes in their judgment and in executing driving maneuvers. For example, they may oversteer when making a turn or overreact to slipping off the edge of the row. They may be less likely to accurately estimate the distance between themselves and other vehicles and more likely to make dangerous lane changes. Additionally, teenage drivers, especially male teenagers, are statistically more likely to engage in reckless driving behaviors. These behaviors include distracted driving, aggressive driving, tailgating, street racing, and speeding.
Injuries Caused By Teen Driving Accidents in Houston
Victims of negligent teenage drivers can suffer a wide range of injuries. When drivers are intoxicated, they have little control over their vehicles. When teenage drivers drive while intoxicated, distracted, or at recklessly high speeds, the force of the accident can result in severe injuries, such as:
- Internal organ damage
- Spinal cord injuries, including paralysis
- Traumatic brain injuries (TBIs)
- Lacerations and bruises
- Neck and back injuries
- Broken bones
Pursuing Compensation After a Teen Driving Accident
Innocent people who suffered severe or debilitating permanent injuries because of a negligent teenage driver have a right to total compensation for their harm. Personal injury victims can pursue compensation regardless of the age of the at-fault driver.
In many cases, the people injured in the teenage driving accident are other teenagers who were passengers in the inexperienced driver’s vehicle. Victims can pursue compensation through an insurance claim against the at-fault driver or a personal injury lawsuit. Plaintiffs and personal injury lawsuits can pursue the following types of damages:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Property damages
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Disability and disfigurement
Suing Parents for Their Child’s Car Accident in Houston
According to the Safety Responsibility Act, all drivers must have minimum auto liability insurance. In Texas, victims of negligent teenage drivers can hold the teen’s parents legally responsible for court fines and court costs if the teenager doesn’t have the financial resources to satisfy the penalty. Many parents in Texas list their teenage drivers on their auto insurance policies.
Parents may pay for auto liability insurance on vehicles their teenagers drive on their own. If a teenager causes a car accident, injured parties can see compensation through the parents’ auto liability insurance. However, holding a parent liable through a personal injury lawsuit can be more challenging.
Under Texas law, parents can be held liable for their children’s negligent conduct, but only when the property damage is caused by willful and malicious conduct. The statute also imposes a limit of up to $25,000 per occurrence plus legal fees and costs.
Proving Parental Negligence in Houston
Pursuing a lawsuit for an accidental personal injury against the negligent driver’s parents requires proving parental negligence. The victim would need to prove that the parents knew of their child’s propensity to do harm and failed to take reasonable steps to correct or stop the behavior, such as not letting them drive their car. Additionally, if the teenager had previously engaged in negligent or reckless driving, and his or her parents continued letting them use the vehicle, it can be easier to recover compensation.
Compensation Available in Teen Driving Accidents
As a person injured by a teenage driver, you can pursue compensation through a personal injury lawsuit. You will need to prove that the teenage driver’s negligence or recklessness caused the accident that resulted in your injuries. Plaintiffs in personal injury lawsuits can pursue the following types of compensation:
- Past and future medical expenses
- Lost wages
- Loss of income due to disability
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
- Disability and disfigurement
When the injured plaintiff can prove that the teen driver acted with gross negligence or malicious intent, punitive damages may be available. Punitive damages are rare but are used to punish the defendant for bad behavior and deter other drivers from using similarly dangerous behavior.
Wrongful Death Lawsuits Involving Teen Drivers
If your loved one died in a car accident caused by a teenage driver, you might be able to pursue compensation through a wrongful death lawsuit. While nothing can bring your loved one back, pursuing a claim can help you and your family move forward financially. Plaintiffs can recover compensation for their loved one’s medical expenses, funeral and burial expenses, lost income, loss of consortium, and more.
Injured in a Houston Teen Driving Car Accident? We Can Help
At Ceja Law Firm PLLC, our Houston car accident attorneys provide effective legal representation for victims of teen driving accidents. If you or your loved one have been injured because of the negligent actions of a teenage driver, we can help you understand your options and pursue compensation. Our attorneys have extensive experience negotiating with insurance companies and defendants for the full compensation our clients deserve. Contact Ceja Law Firm PLLC today to learn more about your legal options and price.
Ceja Law Firm PLLC helps clients with teen driver car accident cases throughout Harris County and the Greater Houston Area including Pasadena, Baytown, Sugar Land, Bellaire, Galveston, Texas City, Jacinto City, and more.
