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Teen Driving Accidents in West Virginia

Teenagers tend to be more impulsive and reckless than adults, which can put them at a greater risk for accidents. Even teens who are cautious drivers are at a higher risk of wrecks because they lack the experience of other drivers. Just like everyone else on the road, they are at risk of an accident every time they get behind the wheel.

It is important to properly investigate any crash that involves a young driver and work with a legal professional who knows how to seek out financial compensation in these delicate situations. A seasoned car accident attorney can tell you more about teen driving accidents in West Virginia.

Reasons for Teen Driving Accidents

Teens often lack the experience other drivers have, which leaves them less able to drive defensively. Part of successful driving is anticipating how other people on the road are going to behave and then act accordingly. The inability to do that probably contributes to more teen auto accidents than any other driving behavior.

Some other behaviors from West Virginia teenagers also contribute to auto accidents. Distracted driving is one of the most dangerous behaviors for any driver. One of the ways that West Virginia tries to combat distracted driving is by limiting the number of non-adult passengers a younger teen driver can have in the vehicle. It also prohibits cell phone use. However, many things can be distractions, from changing songs on the radio, to eating or drinking. Managing distractions is challenging, even for experienced drivers, and can be more challenging for teens.

Reckless behaviors are responsible for some accidents. Speeding, aggressive driving, taking turns too quickly, and failing to fully stop at intersections all increase the likelihood of an accident.

Adult drivers with years of experience know how to handle driving in the rain, driving at night, or in a construction zone. Young drivers may not appreciate the risk of driving in these conditions and could become liable for a crash if they go too fast or fail to look out for others.

Determining Liability in Teen Driving Accidents

While first responders or the other driver might initially assume a teen is responsible for an accident, determining liability means examining who was negligent. In West Virginia, a driver can be negligent and still recover for injuries, as long as they are not more than 50 percent responsible for the wreck, so a finding of some negligence is not a bar to financial recovery.

Negligence refers to behavior that is reckless and fails to meet the standard of care of an ordinary, reasonable person. In the context of car accidents, the reasonable person is a reasonable driver. Would a reasonable driver have behaved the way that the teen driver behaved? If the answer is no, then the teen may be negligent. Proof that the teen broke the law can help establish negligence, but some behavior can be negligent without being illegal.

Get Help After Teen Driving Accidents in West Virginia

Auto collision claims are frequently challenging because the other party usually denies wrongdoing, and insurance companies want to minimize payouts.  It is important to work with a Personal Injury attorney who knows how to handle any kind of situation, including those involving novice drivers. After you were hurt in a teen driving accident in West Virginia, please call Jan Dils right away for a free consultation and to learn what legal options are at your disposal.

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Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law

Jan Dils, Attorneys at Law
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