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Getting a driver’s license for the first time is a significant moment in the life of any teenager, but just like anyone else learning a new skill, teen drivers are liable to make mistakes behind the wheel that a more experienced adult driver likely would not. Unfortunately, this means that drivers under the age of 20 are also more likely to end up in preventable traffic accidents caused by inexperience, irresponsibility, or a combination of both behind the wheel.
If you were hurt recently in a collision caused by a reckless or careless teenage driver, your pathway toward financial recovery might look a little different than the standard procedures for filing suit over a car crash in Pennsylvania. With that in mind, it can be essential to have help from a seasoned auto accident attorney from Lowenthal & Abrams when trying to file suit—or even file a substantial insurance claim—over a teen driving accident in Philadelphia.
Who Could Be Liable for a Wreck Involving a Teen Driver?
Technically, a teenage driver can be held directly liable for injuries and losses they cause through their own negligence, just like any other driver. In practice, though, teen drivers rarely personally own the vehicles they are driving when they end up in wrecks, and they typically do not have much in the way of personal assets that could be used to cover damages stemming from a serious crash.
Fortunately, people who get hurt in Philadelphia traffic crashes caused by negligent drivers under the age of 18 can generally hold that teenager’s parent(s) or legal guardian(s) liable for the accident in their stead. In some situations, a parent or legal guardian may even be directly liable for this sort of accident through their negligent behavior—for instance, if they knowingly let a teenager with a history of reckless driving use their vehicle without supervision.
Recovering Fairly While Avoiding Comparative Fault
Whoever is found liable for a teen driver’s accident can be made to pay for the full value of damages like:
- Physical pain and suffering
- Lost enjoyment/quality of life
- Emotional and psychological distress
- Lost work income and working ability
- Medical bills and car repair/replacement costs not already covered by insurance
- Other out-of-pocket expenses related to personal property damage or loss
The fact that teen drivers are statistically more likely to be involved in car crashes than adult drivers does not mean that teen drivers are always 100 percent at fault for accidents involving them in Philadelphia. In fact, it is not unheard of for courts to assign a percentage of comparative fault to people injured in wrecks like this for the role their negligence played in causing the crash—and then, in accordance with 42 Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes §7102, reducing their final damage award or even throwing their case out of court based on that percentage.
Get in Touch with a Philadelphia Attorney About Your Possible Teen Driving Accident Claim Today
While only some teen drivers are guaranteed to be dangerous, it is far from uncommon for young people to end up accidentally or irresponsibly causing severe traffic collisions. If you have been caught up in this sort of wreck recently, you may have grounds to demand substantial civil compensation for the harm you have sustained—but only if you understand and then make effective use of your rights under Pennsylvania civil law.
A capable lawyer can help you get a positive result from a claim based on a teen driving accident in Philadelphia. Call today for a consultation.
