How Teen Drivers Should Respond During a Car Accident

Driving safely can be a challenge, especially when you’re new to it. Teenagers are typically still getting familiarized with driving and can sometimes make mistakes. If you’re a parent, you’re probably paranoid about your teen driver. While you want your child to learn to drive safely, you may also want to know what to do if your teenager is involved in a car accident. Here are some tips for what to do in the event of a car accident.

Responding to a Car Accident

If your child gets into an accident, it’s important to remember that your teen is probably worried and may not be at fault. Plus, there are certain things you should do regardless of who is at fault.

Your teen should first call the police to report the accident. Their second phone call should be to you or their other parent.

Your teen should also know that even if they know they are at fault, they should not admit fault or to the other driver, even if they believe that it is the polite thing to do. Accident liability is often determined based on both drivers’ actions. In other words, the other driver may bear some responsibility too. Teach your teen that if they admit fault after an accident, they may be taking some responsibility that isn’t theirs.

Be Respectful

Your teen should be respectful of the other driver even if they were at fault. This could help you avoid a lawsuit in the future. Treat the other driver as you would want to be treated if you were in the other person’s shoes. In addition, it’s important to be patient with your child and encourage them to explain the situation. Getting upset will only make the situation more difficult to handle.

Be Honest

Don’t lie about what happened in the accident. It could get you in trouble with the police, your insurance company, or the other driver. Lying could also make the accident seem less serious to your friends and family. If your teen gets into a minor accident, it’s important that they let you know as soon as they can. Many minor accidents can be resolved without the involvement of the police. However, accurately judging the severity of the situation is important.

Be Safe

Move the vehicles off the road if possible. If your teen’s car isn’t drivable, or you aren’t sure, call a company like East Bay Tire Co. and request roadside assistance. They can check the car over, and if necessary, tow it to a shop for repairs. It’s important to have damaged vehicles professionally inspected since some vehicle damage may not be apparent.

Take photos of the accident scene if possible. This can help the insurance company get a better sense of what happened than describing it with words. Report the accident to your insurance company. This will help you get your car repaired and make sure the other driver pays for any of the damages.

Follow Up

If your teen is injured in a car accident, let your insurance agent know so they can handle the situation. Plus, it will help speed up the repairs to your car. Keep track of your medical expenses, especially if your teen has a serious injury. This will help you know how much to expect if you have to file a claim with the other driver or your own insurance company.

Keep your teen involved in this. Let them see how the claims process works from start to finish. This will help them as adults if they ever have another accident.

Teenagers have little to no experience with accidents until they get into their first accident. It’s important that you work with them before they start driving, and continue to do so after they start driving, to ensure they know how to respond if an accident happens. It’s also important to make sure they know that accidents happen to everyone and it’s not a personal failure on their part. This will help them remain calm and feel more comfortable calling you when the inevitable happens.