At the Law Offices of Jon Friedman, our Oregon auto accident attorneys know traffic collisions involving teenagers are not uncommon here, or across the country.
According to the Centers for Disease Control, about 2,800 teens under the age of 19 were killed, and about 227,000 were injured in motor vehicle crashes throughout the U.S. last year. That means that every day, about eight teens are killed in motor vehicle crashes, and hundreds more are injured.
Teenage driving injuries and fatalities are tragic. Sadly, many of these crashes could have been prevented. Teens are more likely than older drivers to underestimate or not be able to recognize dangerous situations. They are also more likely than adults to make critical errors that can lead to serious crashes.
When other motorists are hurt or killed by teen drivers, there is often some confusion about who is liable for the damages. Typically, teenagers are not independently wealthy, nor do they have significant assets that can be pursued for damages. But they do have what most other drivers in Oregon have: car insurance.
How Can I Pursue a Teenage Driver’s Insurance Policy for Damages?
It is usually cheaper to add a teenager to their parents’ policy, rather than be insured separately, so many parents take responsibility to ensure their kids are insured, even though the coverage can be expensive.
The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reported that since teen drivers have crash rates nearly four times those of drivers 20 and older per mile driven, adding a teen driver increases car insurance rates by an average of 161%. However, most parents conclude coverage is a good way to protect their families to avoid crash damages if the teen driver causes a crash. If texting, speeding, or impaired it lends itself to more exposure.
If you have been involved in a crash with a teenage driver, you may pursue their insurance coverage for your damages, even if their parent is the primary policyholder.
This is no different than pursuing their parent’s policy directly.
Contact us Our Car Accident Attorneys at the Law Offices of Jon Friedman Today
Before speaking with the insurance company, contact our Multnomah County car accident attorneys at the Law Offices of Jon Friedman at (503) 242-1440 to schedule a free consultation and get the help you need to make informed decisions about the direction of your case.
