If your teen is involved in an auto accident or you are involved in a crash where the at-fault driver is a teen, you may be unsure what legal recourse is available. In general, if a motorist’s negligence or otherwise careless behavior leads to an accident, they can be held legally liable for damages incurred by injured parties. In practical terms, that usually involves filing a claim with the at-fault driver’s insurance company and seeking compensation for injuries and damages.
In the case of an auto accident that was caused by a negligent teen, you may be able to file a claim for compensation through their parent’s auto insurance policy. An auto accident attorney could assist with a wide variety of cases involving teen driving accidents in Baton Rouge and help you pursue the best possible outcome.
Leading Causes of Teen Driving Crashes in Baton Rouge
Like many roadway incidents, local teen driving wrecks can often be traced back to someone’s negligence. Distracted driving behaviors like texting while driving or talking on the phone while driving are common causes of these wrecks. Other instances of careless or reckless driving, such as drunk driving, running a red light, speeding, failing to yield, illegal lane changes, or drug-impaired driving, could also lead to a serious teen driving accident.
These collisions could involve a teen motorist who is struck by a dangerous driver, as well as a situation where a teen driver is legally at fault. An attorney could evaluate the full range of evidence that could be used to prove liability for a teen driving collision, including accident reports, statements from witnesses, photos of the accident and injuries, video footage, and more.
If a driver’s negligent operation of their vehicle causes an accident that injures one or more people, they can be held legally liable for damages. In practice, that typically means the at-fault person’s insurance company could end up paying compensation to the injured individual for their losses.
If the at-fault driver in an auto accident is a teen, an injured person may be able to file a claim with the parent’s insurance company for damages. Likewise, if a teen is injured by a negligent driver, the parents could file a claim for damages on their behalf with the at-fault driver’s insurance company. A nearby attorney could assess the circumstances of a particular wreck to determine where liability lies and what insurance policy or policies may be applicable.
Recovering Damages After a Teen Driving Collision
Teen driving auto accidents in Baton Rouge can leave survivors with serious economic as well as non-economic losses. Special damages are the dollar-amount costs associated with an accident, while general damages do not have a set dollar value.
Common examples of special damages include lost income, hospital bills, physical therapy expenses, and property damage. General damages could range from the survivor’s pain and suffering from their injuries and lost life enjoyment stemming from the accident.
Most car accident cases in Louisiana are subject to a one-year filing deadline, which starts running on the date of the wreck. If an injured individual fails to file a lawsuit within that period, they could lose their right to collect compensation.
Contact a Baton Rouge Teen Driving Accident Attorney
If your teen has been injured in a crash caused by a negligent driver, or you or a loved one were involved in a wreck caused by a teen driver, you need to make sure that your legal rights are protected. An attorney could investigate liability for treen driving accidents in Baton Rouge while evaluating all possible sources for recovering compensation.
If you have questions about filing a personal injury claim after a teen driving accident, the best thing to do is speak with a lawyer who could explain your rights and legal options. Reach out to Tomeny | Best today to schedule your free legal consultation with an injury attorney.
