Teen Driving Accidents in Burbank

Becoming a skilled and responsible driver takes practice. Teen drivers have had little opportunity to develop their skills, and their inexperience, combined with teenagers’ natural tendencies to take risks and push boundaries, means that they are far more likely to get into accidents than more experienced motorists. They are also more likely to be at fault in the crash.

In many scenarios, parents are liable for the damage their teen causes while driving. When you or your loved one sustains losses in a teen driving accident in Burbank, you could seek compensation from the liable parties. Contact our local car accident attorneys immediately to explore your legal options in a specific circumstance.

Common Causes of Teen Driving Accidents

Inexperience leads to many accidents involving teens. They have not yet developed the good habits that make a safe driver and might freeze when an unexpected situation occurs. Teen drivers might speed, follow too closely, or fail to make necessary adjustments when road conditions are poor.

Distraction is also a significant problem for teenage drivers. Texting while driving, talking to passengers, adjusting the sound system, eating, and even looking away from the road momentarily can lead to accidents.

Burbank teens who experiment with alcohol and drugs while driving can also cause crashes. Impaired teen drivers face significant criminal and administrative penalties as well as civil liability to anyone who sustains injuries or death in the accident.

Parents Are Vicariously Liable for Teen’s Negligent Driving

California is an at-fault state, meaning the driver who causes an accident is liable for the losses others sustain due to the crash. Other people involved in the crash can file claims for property damage and personal injuries with the at-fault driver’s insurance company.

When a teen under 18 wants to drive, their parent or guardian must sign a consent form. According to California Vehicle Code §17707, the form makes the parents jointly and severally liable with the child for any harm they cause while driving. This means the parent can be held fully responsible for the losses their child causes.

When a teen causes an accident and an injured party files a lawsuit, a Burbank attorney representing the injured motorist must prove that the teen’s parent signed the consent form and had not revoked their permission. The legal professional must also prove the accident was a direct result of the teen’s negligence.

Accidents With Teen Drivers Who Are No Longer Minors

A child becomes an adult at age 18, and their parents are no longer automatically responsible for them. A young adult might have their own insurance, and anyone injured in an accident would have to claim against that coverage. If the young person has the minimum liability coverage of $15,000 for injuries to one person and $30,000 for injuries to multiple people, the coverage might be inadequate to pay an injured person’s losses.

The young driver would be personally liable for losses exceeding their insurance coverage, but young people often have no assets to pay a judgment. In that case, a Burbank attorney could try to hold the parents or others liable for the accident.

If the young person was driving their parent’s or someone else’s car with their permission, the car’s owner has vicarious liability for the accident. If a driver under 21 had consumed alcohol before the accident, the person or establishment who served them has liability under the state’s Dram Shop Act. When a defect in the vehicle contributed to the crash, the vehicle manufacturer could be liable for an injured person’s losses.

Consult a Burbank Attorney If a Teen Driver Injured You or Your Child

Teen drivers frequently cause accidents. When the teen is under 18, their parents are liable for injuries and other losses the accident caused. When the teen is over 18, their parents could still be liable, depending on the circumstances.

Contact our local injury attorneys when you sustain injuries and losses in a teen driving accident in Burbank. We could help you secure appropriate compensation. Reach out today.