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Pennsylvania state law allows teenagers as young as 16 to get learner’s permits and operate motor vehicles on public roads under adult supervision. Teens under 18 who have had learner’s permits for at least six months may qualify for junior driver’s licenses. Even with supervision, though, teen drivers still tend to be less skilled and are more likely to be careless behind the wheel than most adult drivers—meaning teen drivers are also more likely to end up causing wrecks.
If you have been hurt in a teen driving accident in Erie recently, you may understandably have some questions about how you should go about seeking financial recovery and who specifically you should be seeking that recovery from. Fortunately, you have help available from knowledgeable auto accident attorneys who know exactly how to handle your claim.
Holding Parents and Guardians Liable for Teen Drivers
Teen drivers are expected to fulfill the same duty of care imposed on all other drivers in Pennsylvania. This means they are expected to act reasonably at all times and can be held liable for any harm they cause by breaching their duty. In practice, though, teen drivers involved in Erie traffic accidents rarely own or are named as insurance policyholders for the vehicles they are driving. So, filing suit solely against a teen driver over a wreck is seldom a productive course of action.
Instead, it is usually best—and more importantly, completely legal—to seek restitution from the parent(s) or guardian(s) of that teen driver. Depending on the circumstances, a negligent teen’s parent(s) or guardian(s) may just be vicariously liable for their child’s misconduct, or they may be directly liable for their own negligent behavior—for instance, knowingly allowing an unlicensed teen driver to use their vehicle.
Getting Paid for All Available Damages
Regardless of who holds civil liability for injuries stemming from a teen driver crash in Erie, all liable parties can be made to pay for every negative effect the crash will have on the injured person filing suit against them. This can include but is not necessarily restricted to damages like:
- Physical discomfort and pain
- Emotional anguish and suffering
- Short-term and long-term medical expenses
- Lost work income, benefits, or long-term working ability
- Expenses related to personal property damage or loss, including car repair/replacement costs
- Lost enjoyment of life and other intangible effects of permanent disability/disfigurement
It should be emphasized, though, that some of these losses may be covered through auto insurance, in which case it would not be possible to recover again for those same losses through an ensuing civil lawsuit.
Speak With an Erie Attorney About Suing Over a Teen Driving Accident
It is certainly not the case that every teenage driver is guaranteed to be irresponsible if allowed behind the wheel of a passenger car. However, it is a statistical fact that young drivers are more likely to be involved in wrecks than adult drivers—something which you may unfortunately have learned the hard way recently.
You have support available from a capable car crash lawyer in getting the compensation you deserve in the wake of a teen driving accident in Erie. Learn more by calling today.
