Teen Driving Accidents in Los Angeles

While some teenagers are just as responsible and careful behind the wheel as fully grown adults, they may still be more likely than adults to end up involved in a traffic accident just from sheer inexperience. Unfortunately, many other teenagers combine their lack of experience with various other reckless and careless behaviors, any one of which may lead to a collision with serious and even life-altering consequences for everyone involved.

Just like you could after a crash caused by a negligent adult, you have the right after a teen driving accident in Los Angeles to demand civil restitution from the person responsible for causing the accident in the first place and subsequently causing you to suffer a significant injury. In practice, though, these types of claims can be complicated in numerous ways, which makes it especially important to have help from a seasoned car accident lawyer when pursuing one.

How Civil Liability Works for Teen Driver Wrecks

Under California state law, children under the age of 18 can only legally drive on public roads if their parent(s) or guardian(s) sign a consent form acknowledging that they accept “parental liability” for their child’s actions behind the wheel. Most of the time, this means that when a teen driver causes a traffic accident in Los Angeles, their parent(s) or guardian(s) is the one who holds direct civil liability for accident-related losses, even if they were not in the car with their child at the time of the incident.

Similarly, adults who knowingly allow a teenaged driver to operate their own personal vehicle may hold “vicarious liability” for any accident that teenaged driver causes through their own negligence, even if there is no familial relationship between them and the vehicle owner. A knowledgeable auto accident attorney could explain these and other possible routes toward financial recovery following this sort of wreck during a private initial consultation.

Recovering Fairly Within Filing Deadlines

A comprehensive auto accident lawsuit should account for the full value of all economic and non-economic consequences the accident will ever directly lead to for the injured “plaintiff” filing suit, and teen driving accidents in Los Angeles are certainly not exceptions to this rule. While every claim is unique, examples of “compensable damages” that often play a role in cases of this nature include:

• Medical bills, including costs of long-term care like physical therapy
• Lost working capacity and/or work earnings
• Vehicle damage and other forms of personal property damage
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish and distress
• Lost enjoyment of life and other effects of permanent disability/disfigurement, if applicable

It is worth noting, though, that drivers who do not have at least the minimum amount of liability insurance coverage required by state law are not eligible to seek compensation for non-economic damages like pain and suffering after a car crash, even if someone else was 100 percent at fault for causing that wreck.

Discuss Legal Options for a Los Angeles Teen Driving Accident With a Qualified Attorney

Unfortunately, there is no shortage of statistics showing that teenagers overall are substantially more likely to cause serious car wrecks than any other age group. As common as teen driving accidents in Los Angeles might comparatively be, though, you will still need a thorough knowledge of the law and your own rights under it to effectively demand compensation for losses you sustained through this sort of wreck.

That is where a capable and compassionate car accident lawyer can step in to help. Call CD Law today to discuss your options and potentially start working on your claim.