Looking for Austin Teen Driver Accident Lawyers? Here We Are!
Sadly, one of the leading causes of teenage deaths in the United States every year is car crashes. Because teen drivers are inexperienced and prone to making reckless decisions, collisions involving teenagers are particularly common in an around Austin. These accidents can cause severe injuries to all involved parties.
If a teenage driver hurt you or your family member, you should reach out to our firm for qualified legal counsel. Obtaining compensation after teen driving accidents in Austin often requires the help of a compassionate and skilled auto collision attorney who can guide you through the complex process of filing a civil lawsuit.
What Makes Accidents Involving Teens So Severe?
As many parents know, teenagers often think of themselves as invincible and may not consider their safety or that of others when driving. In other words, teens may make reckless driving decisions that older, more experienced drivers would otherwise avoid.
Other common causes of teenage driving accidents in Austin include:
- Inexperience
- Undeveloped reaction time
- Speeding, racing, tailgating
- Texting while driving
- Drunk driving
- Carpooling with teenage passengers (i.e., distracted driving)
- Using headphones
- Night driving
Injuries Resulting from Serious Teen Driving Accidents in Austin
Many teenagers also do not wear their seatbelts, so the resulting injuries from a crash are often substantially more serious. Teens who are involved in accidents while not wearing seatbelts can suffer extensive injuries from the impact of the collision and could even be ejected from the vehicle.
Some of the life-altering consequences that can result from a teen driving accident include but are not limited to:
- Broken bones
- Spinal cord injuries
- Severe head trauma
- Whiplash
- Paralysis
- Loss of limb
- Death
If someone did pass away in an accident caused by a teen driver, their surviving loved ones may be able to file a wrongful death suit against liable parties. Our compassionate lawyers understand how heart-wrenching crashes involving teenage drivers can be for all involved parties. Let our dedicated team of attorneys visit the crash scene, interview eyewitnesses, and review the police reports to determine the cause of the accident and whether the teenage driver bears potential liability.
Potential Sources of Liability
Someone injured in a crash involving teen drivers would first file a claim against the teenage driver's insurance company for damages. If the claimant's losses exceed the teen driver's insurance policy limits, their other option is to bring a civil claim against the teen or their parents, especially if the parents were negligent in supervising their child. If another person contributed to a teen driving accident, an experienced Austin attorney could also help a claimant seek damages from that third party.
Parental Liability Laws in Texas
For teen driving accidents, financial responsibility, the Texas Family Code § 41.001 applies, which dictates parents/legal guardians are financially liable for property damage and bodily injury caused by their minor child’s (under 18) negligent driving. The best Austin teen driver accident attorney shares that the damages covered under the code include;
- Medical bills for injured parties.
- Vehicle repairs or replacement.
- Pain and suffering (up to Texas’ statutory limits).
But there are limitations to the compensation provided by the liable parties, including;
Liability caps at $25,000 per injured person and $50,000 total per accident for bodily injury. However, this limitation does not apply if the teen was driving a stolen vehicle or without parental consent.
In addition to this, there’s the clause of negligent entrustment. This means parents of a teen driver can be sued by the best Austin teen driver accident attorneys in Austin, if they knowingly encouraged reckless driving. This clause applies if;
- Lending a car to a teen with a suspended license.
- Ignoring a history of speeding tickets or DUIs.
Wrongful Death Claim in Teen Accident Driver Cases
Texas law only allows certain individuals to pursue wrongful death claims, and that too, when they can prove that the teen’s negligence led to the accident and death. In case you had to go through the loss of a loved one, your Austin teen driver accident lawyer can file a case on behalf of the deceased’s spouse, children, and parents.
However, to prove negligence in this scenario, the requirements are a bit different, as the lawyers have to prove;
- The teen was driving under the influence;
- The driver was distracted while driving;
- The driver was driving recklessly;
- The driver failed to yield;
- Violation of Graduated Driver License (GDL) restrictions.
In addition to this, the Texas law states you only have two years from the date of accident to file a wrongful death lawsuit.
Recovering Compensation after a Teen Driving Accident in Austin
If you sustained losses in a teen driving accident in Austin, it is critical that you reach out to a team of lawyers with the necessary experience and proven results you need. Our attorneys understand the complicated issues of settling and litigating cases involving teenage drivers, so reach out to our firm today.
What are the Insurance Requirements for Teen Drivers in Texas?
According to our expert Austin teen driver accident attorney in Austin, there’s a minimum insurance coverage for bodily injury.
Minimum Coverage is covered under the Texas Insurance Code § 601.072;
- Bodily Injury: $30,000 per injured person and $60,000 per accident.
- Property Damage: $25,000 per accident.
Then there’s the Underinsured Motorist (UIM) coverage that covers the gap in the deserved compensation if the teen driver’s motor insurance is insufficient. According to Texas law, insurers are required to offer UIM, but policyholders can reject it only after giving it in writing.
How can Austin Teen Driver Attorneys Prove Negligence in Teen Driving Accidents?
The Austin teen driver accident attorneys in Austin will look after certain key pieces of evidence when trying to prove negligence;
- Police Reports: They will use citations for speeding, DUIs, or illegal phone use to prove negligence claims.
- Phone Records: The attorneys will subpoena text and call records while matching them with the crash timeline to ascertain that the driver was distracted while driving.
- Witness Testimony: Austin teen driver accident attorneys can also record testimonies of passengers or bystanders confirming reckless behavior.
In addition to trying to find the teen driver at fault, an Austin teen driver accident lawyer will also look into third-party liability. This is when they try to find other causes that might have led to the accident. - Social Host Liability: According to the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Code § 106.06, adults cannot provide alcohol to minors. Those who provide alcohol must face civil liability if the minor causes a drunk driving accident.
The penalties for providing alcohol and if it becomes one of the causes of accidents, the server can face up to $4,000 in fines and 1 year in jail (criminal). Plus, they will have to face civil lawsuits and compensation for full accident damages.
How will DJC Law’s Austin Teen Driver Accident Lawyer Build Your Case?
Experienced Austin teen driver accident lawyers in Austin will never take anything on chance or guess the outcome. They will reconstruct the entire accident scenario to find who’s at fault and what led to the accident.
- Accident Reconstruction: Reconstructing the accident by analyzing skid marks on the road at the time of the accident to calculate speed. We can also take expert assistance and use 3D modeling to recreate collision dynamics. As a result, we can prove recklessness by finding evidence of the driver speeding 20 mph over the limit.
- Digital Forensics: Digital forensics is a separate scientific field of identifying, acquiring, processing, analyzing, and reporting data stored on electronic devices. The best Austin teen driver accident lawyers in Austin will subpoena telecom providers for call/text logs and extract deleted social media posts, specifically about the signs of distracted driving.
- Witness Interviews: Another strategy we use to gather evidence is talking to passengers via deposition with the motive to confirm the teen was texting or under the influence. Plus, we will use dashcam footage or surveillance videos from other cars driving on the same road and nearby businesses.
Why Choose DJC Law for Austin Teen Driver Accident Lawyer in Austin?
- Specialized Experience with Teen Driving Accidents: DJC Law attorneys understand the importance of proving negligence in teen driving accident cases. So they work quickly to gather required evidence and build a strong case.
- Deep Knowledge of Texas Teen Driving Laws: Our attorneys use the Texas’ Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) laws (Transportation Code § 545.424) and local Austin regulations to find fault and hold teens and their negligent parents accountable for the accident and losses.
- Proven Results for Austin Families: We have recovered millions in rightful and deserving compensation for our clients while representing them inside the court or in out-of-court settlements.
- Aggressive Insurance Negotiation: We counter tactics used by insurers to blame victims (e.g., claiming you “shared fault”). Our attorneys have a 98% success rate in maximizing payouts, even when teens or parents deny liability.