Teen Driver Accidents

Dedicated Car Crash Lawyers Helping Victims in Wheaton and Schaumburg

Teenage drivers have higher insurance rates for a reason. Their inexperience coupled with their overzealousness often causes accidents on Illinois roads. If you have been injured in an accident caused by a teen driver, you should reach out to a Wheaton or Schaumburg car accident attorney who can analyze the merits of your case. We can also help if your teenager was injured by the negligence of someone else. At Therman Law Offices, we can evaluate the facts of your teen driver accident, advise you of your rights, and determine a legal strategy accordingly. With years of experience, we understand how to navigate these types of claims.

Holding a Negligent Teenager Accountable for a Teen Driver Accident

Car accidents are the leading cause of death for teens in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the risk of motor vehicle crashes is higher among 16-19-year-olds than among any other age group. In fact, per mile driven, teen drivers ages 16-19 are nearly three times more likely than drivers aged 20 and older to be in a fatal crash. CDC data also reveal that nearly 300,000 teens across the country are treated in emergency rooms for injuries related to car accidents. While teenagers and young adults only make up 14 percent of the national population, they account for 28 to 30 percent of the costs of car crash injuries.

Lack of experience behind the wheel, excessive speeding, susceptibility to distractions such as the use of cellphones, and the lack of ability to recognize dangerous situations on the road are just some of the reasons why teen drivers are at a higher risk of accidents. No matter the reason, if a teen driver has injured you, your attorney may be able to recover compensation through a personal injury claim. Negligence forms the basis of most personal injury claims. Negligence occurs when a teen driver causes harm by failing to use reasonable care while operating their vehicle. Reasonable care refers to how an ordinary driver would act behind the wheel under the same circumstances. In order to win on a negligence claim, the plaintiff needs to prove the following points:

• The teen driver owed a duty of care;
• The teen driver violated the duty of care owed to the plaintiff;
• The teen driver’s breach was a direct cause of the accident; and
• The plaintiff suffered certain specific injuries or damages.

Illinois follows the doctrine of modified comparative negligence, under which fault is relatively apportioned among each party involved in the accident. Put another way, if a plaintiff is deemed to be partially at fault for a crash involving a teen, that plaintiff’s amount of fault will be assigned a percentage. This is important because the plaintiff’s recovery will be reduced by their percentage of fault. For example, if the plaintiff is 30 percent at fault, they will only be able to take home 70 percent of the total award (100 percent minus the percentage of fault). If a plaintiff is deemed to be more than 50 percent at fault for a teen driver accident, however, they will be barred from recovering anything at all.

An accident victim in Illinois may be able to seek a variety of damages, including medical expenses (such as hospital costs and medication costs), rehabilitation costs, pain and suffering, lost wages and benefits, and property damage.

Discuss Your Motor Vehicle Collision Case with a Lawyer in Schaumburg or Wheaton

If you have been injured in an accident involving a teen driver, you may be entitled to compensation for your harm. At Therman Law Offices, our attorneys understand the nuances of this area of law and can apply our knowledge to your case. You can rest assured that we are committed to getting you the compensation that you are legally entitled to receive. We represent victims and families in cities such as Wheaton, Schaumburg, Westmont, Oakbrook Terrace, Clarendon Hills, Downers Grove, Lisle, Darien, and Bolingbrook. Whether you have been hit by a teen who was distracted, fatigued, speeding, or engaging in any other careless or reckless behavior, you can call us at 312-588-1900 or contact us online.