Teen Driver Accidents

Receiving your driver’s license is a major milestone and a fond memory in many people’s lives. Unfortunately, teen drivers are responsible for a vast number of accidents and may pose a serious threat to other motorists if they fail to take the responsibility and privilege of driving seriously. In 2013, for example, over 2,000 teenage drivers lost their lives, and nearly 250,000 were injured as a result of a motor vehicle collision. Teens may constitute only 14 percent of our nation’s population, but they account for nearly one-third of the total costs associated with these crashes. Greenville and Spartanburg car accident attorney Patrick E. Knie has the skill and experience it takes to help you investigate a potential claim and to hold a careless teen driver who caused your injuries responsible.

A motor vehicle collision often leads to a personal injury claim. In this type of case, the plaintiff must establish the four elements of negligence: duty, breach, causation, and damages. Drivers owe other motorists and pedestrians a duty to drive with care, skill, and attention at all times. This standard of care encompasses complying with applicable traffic rules and refraining from engaging in distracted driving activities. The most common distracted driving activity consists of texting or talking on one’s cell phone, something that is especially common among teenagers. Taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds to read a text message can result in a serious or even fatal accident. Obeying the speed limit and yielding the right of way are other common examples of rules that define the care we must exercise while driving, and these are also rules that are often violated by novice drivers. A driver who fails to obey these laws or to drive with the level of reasonable care required in a given situation has breached the standard of care.

After showing that you were owed a duty and that the teen driver failed to act according to that duty, you must next establish a causal link between the breach and the injuries that you sustained. South Carolina recognizes the doctrine of contributory negligence, which allows the jury to assess whether the plaintiff’s own negligence contributed to the injuries that he or she suffered. As a result, it is important to understand the sequence of events leading to the accident and to conduct a thorough investigation that will underscore the defendant’s responsibility for the crash.

If you are successful in a personal injury claim, you may be able to receive many forms of compensation, such as medical expenses, missed paychecks, future medical care, damage to your vehicle, and pain and suffering. If you have lost a loved one as the result of a teen driver’s carelessness, South Carolina allows you to bring a wrongful death claim to pursue compensation for the funeral and burial expenses as well as compensation for the loss of your loved one.

Car accidents are usually a stressful and painful experience for everyone involved. The last thing that you want to do when you are trying to cope with your injuries is to navigate the judicial system and negotiate with insurance companies or opposing parties. Spartanburg and Greenville car accident lawyer Patrick E. Knie can make sure that your rights are asserted vigorously at each step of the process as you focus on healing from your injuries. Representing victims throughout Cherokee, Union, Greenville, Spartanburg, and Laurens Counties, we offer a free consultation to help you explore the legal options that may be available to you. Call us at (864) 582-5118 or contact us online to set up an appointment with a motor vehicle collision attorney.