Prom and Graduation Season: Who is Liable for Teenage Car Crashes?

Spring has arrived, and young drivers will hit the Tennessee roads for such adolescent milestones as prom, graduation, and senior year parties. While these celebratory events should be filled with joy and memory-making moments, they far too often end in horrible tragedies at the hands of teen drivers. Inexperienced vehicle operation, coupled with poor decision-making, can result in serious injuries, property damage, and even death. These accidents can leave individuals and families struggling with medical bills and years of turmoil. While car crashes involving young drivers are all too common, most people do not understand how liability is determined when these incidents occur.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that automobile accidents are a primary cause of death among teens in the United States. Every day, six young people between the ages of 16 and 19 die in car crashes. These numbers are disturbing, but they demonstrate the likelihood of teenage driver involvement in traffic accidents.

Insured teenage drivers

When an accident with a teenage driver occurs, the compensation claim will generally follow the same procedure as any other car crash. An insurance agency representative will contact you and request information about the incident and what happened. It is very important to have legal representation from an experienced Memphis auto accident attorney during this phase in the process. Insurance adjustors can be very crafty with their questions. It only takes one wrong statement to greatly diminish your chances at receiving a high-value compensation amount.

Tennessee law requires teenage drivers to follow the same insurance requirements as older drivers, and teens are usually covered under their parents’ automobile insurance policy. The inexperience of these drivers makes this coverage expensive, and unfortunately, some parents choose to allow their teens to drive without adequate liability insurance.

The uninsured teen driver

When uninsured or underinsured teens operate vehicles on the roadway, the question of liability can become a bit more complicated. Under circumstances where the teen driver causes a crash while operating a parent’s vehicle, the Tennessee courts may hold the parent vicariously liable for all resulting damages and injuries. This means that the teenager’s parents may be responsible for providing monetary compensation to the victim. This liability doctrine may also apply if the teen is driving a car registered to someone else but is using it to handle family matters. Every auto accident is different, and it’s important to note that the ultimate determination of liability depends on the specific facts of your individual case.

If a negligent teen driver hurt you or a loved one, count on the Memphis car accident attorneys of Bailey & Greer, PLLC, to provide quality legal representation. We proudly serve the residents of Memphis, Jackson, and West Tennessee. Contact our office at 901-680-9777 or complete our convenient contact form today.