Teenagers may be excited to drive, but they lack experience. This means that they get into accidents more frequently than drivers in older age groups. Unfortunately, because all drivers are at risk of harm when traveling, even teenagers who don’t make any mistakes may be involved in accidents caused by other drivers. When this happens, it may be the first crash that a young driver has ever been in, and that can be very confusing and unsettling.
As a parent, it’s important to know what steps to take and what advice to give your teenager. It can be useful to print out a set of steps they should take after a crash and keep it in the glove box. This way, they will be prepared and they’ll know what to do. Here are a few of the most important steps they can take.
Call emergency services
First and foremost, seeking medical attention are very important. The teenager should call the authorities, likely just by dialing 911 to report the accident. They should also check to see if anyone has been injured if they have passengers in the vehicle with them or if other vehicles were involved in the crash.
Don’t take the blame
People will sometimes assume that they were at fault, especially if they’re young and they don’t understand how the accident happened. But your teen should never say that it was their fault, and they likely shouldn’t even apologize to the other driver, as that can sometimes be construed as an admission of guilt. They don’t need to blame the other driver, either, but should simply wait for the process to play out and not comment on fault at all.
Take photos of the scene
Pictures and video of the crash can be incredibly important. They should show the damage, the overall scene, the road design, the positions of the vehicles, any injuries that were suffered, etc. It may help to simply take a quick video with a phone, but detailed pictures can be even better, so taking both is ideal.
Exchange insurance information
Finally, the accident will likely at least result in an insurance claim. The teen should exchange information about insurance policies and general contact information, such as the phone number and license plate number.
If your teenager has been injured in a crash, then you may need to take further steps to pursue financial compensation. Seeking legal guidance is a good place to start.