Educate Your Teen About What To Do If They Are In A Car Accident
You are likely already nervous about letting your teen get behind the wheel of a car. But learning how to drive is part of growing up, and you'll have to let them spread their wings and hit the open road eventually. You, of course, would never want your child to get into a car accident but in a way, it might actually be helpful to talk with your teen about what to do in the event that an accident does occur. This will at least give you some peace of mind that your child will know what to say (and what not to say) in the event of an accident.
Tell Them to Document
Just about every teen these days is glued to their smartphones, so taking photos of the accident scene shouldn't be too difficult. You might also tell your teen to take photos of any damage to either car or to any nearby property. Tell your teen to of course call you if they are in an accident, but they also might want to call the police. A police report is another form of documentation and it could prove useful if the other party's story changes later on.
Tell Them to Stand Up for Themselves
If your teen is in an accident, there's a good chance that the other driver might be quite older. It's important in this scenario that your teen does not feel intimidated or like they need to go along with what the other driver is saying. Your teen should not apologize to the other driver as this could be viewed as an admission of guilt. With all of that said, make sure your teen also knows to maintain a respectful tone even while standing up for themselves. Getting angry or making threats is not going to make the situation any better.
Get Your Teen a Lawyer
It's not uncommon for some people to just assume the teenager was at fault when there was a car accident. But your teen has rights just like everyone else. Hire your teen a car accident attorney if you believe they are entitled to financial compensation for damages or if you need to help them defend themselves. A good attorney may be able to talk to the insurance companies on your teen's behalf or help find witnesses who saw what happened.
Hopefully, the day will never come, but if your teen is ever in a car accident, contact a car accident lawyer.