Your Teen's First Car Collision: How To Proceed

22 December 2018
 Categories: Law, Blog

Few things are more upsetting than finding out that your teenager has been involved with their first vehicle collision. When you see them, feelings may flood to the surface and you may commit yourself to legal action.  Consider these actions too.

Call the Police

Your teenager may not have had the presence of mind to call the cops to the scene. They might have been afraid to. Therefore, you'll need to do the task. Police have interviewing methods that allow them to get at the facts rapidly and in a way that will be helpful to judges and lawyers.

Calling police is especially valuable because they will contact other passengers in both cars and take witness statements. This provides a fuller picture of what the accident was like for all involved.

Make Doctor Appointments

Even when your teenager says "I'm okay" when you ask about seeing a doctor, you should be making physician appointments for them anyway. Possible internal bleeding--or lack of bleeding--should be evaluated. Your teenager will likely be tested for a concussion too.

Take Pictures

If your teen has bruises or cuts, photograph them for later use in court or to deliver to the insurance company. Don't ask your teenager to do this, as they may forget or not understand how pictures can help their case.

Encourage a Vacation from Their Social Media

Your teen is likely an avid user of many social media apps and sites. They may want to post selfies of themselves and their injuries or tell a thrilling story of how the accident happened. They need to know that social media could cause them trouble in this situation. Lawyers and private investigators are increasingly interested in studying social media for their clients, and if your teenager embellishes facts or brags a bit, the other driver can suggest that your teenager is lying in court documents. if your teenager is preening for the camera in profile pictures, the opposing lawyer can question claims of injury. Therefore, compel your teen to wait until the accident case is resolved.

Discourage Conversations with the Other Driver

Because they probably have their own cellphone, opposing lawyers might directly call your teenager to discuss the case. This is where your teen can be tripped up, no matter how intelligent they are. Tell them that they're not to speak to adults about the case unless they're you or the lawyer you've retained.

Your teenager is important to your life. With these tips, communication with their lawyer and discussions with your child, their first car accident won't be a stain on their driving life. Contact a car accident lawyer for more help.