3 Tips To Share With Teen Drivers About (And Before) Auto Accidents

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As the parent of a teenager who is probably inching ever closer to legal, unaccompanied driving privileges, you are likely to have taken significant measures to provide them with the tools they need to be as safe as possible behind the wheel. Given that about one out of three teens who died in 2010 did so as the result of motor vehicle collisions, the need for such thoughtful preparation of young drivers is obvious. However, it is also important to consider that when your young adult goes away to college, new climate and social challenges to their driving skills may appear. Therefore, it is crucial to educate new drivers about when it is okay to make statements, talk to insurance companies or even if it is acceptable to loan out the car, so that you can protect them from possible legal concerns.

#1-Regardless Of Who Caused The Accident Or How Minor The Accident Seems, Always Call 911

It is easy for teen drivers to feel intimidated by an adult driver or friend with whom they were involved in an accident. Unfortunately, this intimidation can lead your teen to delay reporting the accident. You probably already know that when an accident is not reported immediately after an accident, it becomes increasingly more difficult to file or win a claim. As a result, it is crucial to let the newest driver in your home know that information as well.

#2-Never Make Statements To The Insurance Company, The Other Driver Or Witnesses Without Legal Advice

In the first moments after a car accident, regardless of whose fault it was, it is not unusual to make statements that cannot be taken back later. Unfortunately, those statements can be used against your son or daughter if the other party protests their own guilt in causing the accident or would like to make the guilt of your child more obvious. Therefore, it is never a good idea to make any statements about the accident without first getting legal advice about doing so.

#3-Never Allow Someone To Borrow The Car

Whether it is a local friend, a roommate at college or someone they barely know but had to park behind, it is almost inevitable that at some point in the next few years, your teenager will be asked to loan out the car. There is a common misconception that when you loan out a car, your insurance automatically follows and if an accident happens, insurance will pay for the damage. The truth is that insurance policies can vary significantly from one to another. That means that if your teen could find that they cannot get the car repaired or place you in a bad financial position, if someone not on the insurance policy is ever involved in an accident while driving the car.

In conclusion, auto accidents can happen to any driver at any time. Unfortunately, young drivers are at a greater risk of motor vehicle collisions. As a result, it is essential to not only prepare your teen for driving under a variety of conditions, but to also make sure they can protect themselves after an accident by knowing when to make statements about the event and when it is a better idea to speak with an auto accident attorney. Visit http://www.strohllaw.com/ for more information. 

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11 March 2016

Knowing Your Legal Rights Can Help You Greatly in Life

Like many people, I once found learning about law very intimidating. My brother went to law school and I remember glancing through a few of his books and wondering if I was actually reading English due to all of the legal jargon in them! However, when I ended up in a sticky legal situation due to accidentally breaking a small law I didn't know existed, I realized that I needed to learn more about the law, so I could make sure to follow it precisely in the future. My brother helped to break down some complicated legal concepts to me, and I have since been studying up online. I want to post what I have learned and continue to learn about law in the future on my new blog, so my knowledge cannot only help myself, but also help others!