​If you’ve been injured in a car accident caused by a teen driver, you may have a claim that may allow you to receive compensation for your injuries and other damages stemming from the accident. You may be able to recover your medical costs, lost wages, and payment for your pain and suffering, any disability or disfigurement you experienced, and your loss of normal life. An experienced car accident lawyer can help you figure out your options for proceeding with a claim, and represent you in negotiations or a lawsuit to get you a fair settlement or jury verdict.

​It’s a commonly accepted belief that teenagers think they’re immortal and invincible. Someone just on the cusp of adulthood, who is tasting new freedoms for the first time such as driving a car, often doesn’t comprehend the reality that life is fragile and can be changed in an instant. Because of that, teen drivers often aren’t as careful on the road as adults — and that lack of a sense of mortality and maturity can lead to tragic consequences. Teens also have the lowest rate of seat belt among any age group, with just 55 percent of high school students reporting that they use one when they ride in a vehicle. Failing to use seat belts can mean that teen drivers and passengers experience more severe injuries and a higher rate of fatalities when in a car crash.

​But it isn’t only the teen at risk when a teen driver gets behind the wheel and causes a collision. A car accident may injure other drivers, passengers, bicyclists, or pedestrians — and since alcohol and/or speed often are factors in auto collisions caused by teen drivers, injuries can be very serious for other people involved. Teenagers have car insurance just as any adult does. This car insurance exists to cover the costs of damages when a serious accident occurs and victims are badly hurt.

​When teen drivers get behind the wheel, there are a number of common factors that lead to crashes. Many of them relate to a teen driver’s relative immaturity and inexperience on the road. Among the most common factors in crashes caused by teen drivers are:

• Speeding – When asked by Allstate what their opinion on speeding was, 17 percent of teen drivers actually said it was “fun,” while 55 percent said they had sped in their car, going 10 or more mph beyond the legal speed limit.
• Driver Distraction – Around 11 percent of fatal car crashes involving teen drivers under age 20 involve some type of distraction, Distraction.gov reports. This might include any type of visual, manual or cognitive distraction. However, cell phones and texting can be especially distracting.
• Drinking and Driving – while driving and driving is an issue no matter the age. Underage drinking and driving among teens is a leading contribution to teenage auto accidents.
• Driver Drowsiness – A study conducted by the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety revealed that teens tend to pull over to rest less often than other drivers if they find themselves too tired to drive safely.

Teenagers who have passengers in the car with them when driving may also be more likely to become involved in a crash. A study conducted by the University of Michigan Transportation Research Center indicated that 69 percent of teenagers routinely drove around with at least two friends ages 21 and under in their cars.