Would you know what to do if your teen called and said they were involved in a car accident? If not, it’s important to know what to do and how to help them get through this confusing and stressful situation.
Keep in mind that if your teen is in a car accident that is not their fault, then you may have the right to recover compensation. The best way to know for sure is to get in touch with our car accident attorneys at Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers, who can help with your case and situation.
Some other tips that will help you with this situation can be found here.
Contact the Authorities
If your teen calls you after being involved in a car accident, be sure to ask them if there were any injuries. If there are, it’s a good idea to call 911. Even if there are no injuries, it is smart to call the authorities to let them know the accident occurred. Having a police report is important when it comes to accidents involving teens or adults. This is especially true if you file a lawsuit down the road and need to prove who was at fault for the collision.
Get Medical Attention
Even if your teen does not believe they were seriously injured in the accident, it is important that they are looked at by a medical professional. This can be the EMS workers who arrive on the scene, at the emergency room after the accident, or their personal physician. There are a few reasons to do this. First, going to the doctor establishes what injuries were caused in the accident. This type of documentation is beneficial if you plan to file a claim in the future. Also, a doctor can find any injuries that may not have shown symptoms yet and ensure they are treated before they have the chance to get more serious.
Make Sure They Are Safe
Your top concern as a parent is your child’s safety. Be sure that your teen is in a safe location while they wait for the authorities to arrive. If they can move their car out of traffic, encourage them to do so. If not, tell them to leave the car and get to the side of the road or somewhere else where they will be safe. It’s also a good idea to turn the car’s hazard lights on to make it more noticeable to other drivers.
Never Place or Accept Blame
Remind your teen that they should not admit fault or even blame the other driver. While this is important, you should encourage them to ask the other driver and any other passengers if they have been injured.
Take Photos of the Accident Scene
It’s important to capture as much evidence as possible while still at the accident scene. Tell your teen to take photos of the vehicles, their position on the road, road conditions, traffic signs, and any other factors that may have played a role in the collision. These details are often forgotten and lost just a few hours after the accident occurs.
Get the Other Party’s Contact Information
It’s best to contact the police. In fact, in Connecticut, it’s the law. When the police arrive at the scene of the accident, they will look into the cause and contributing factors. The authorities will also collect information from all the parties who were involved. While this is true, it’s a good idea to have your teen get contact information from the other party involved, too. Having this may be beneficial moving forward.
Take Notes About the Accident and Scene
Encourage your teen to capture as many details as they can about the accident and details. This includes things like the other types of vehicles involved, exact location, weather conditions, date and time, your speed, and other factors that may be forgotten. Your teen can put these things on their phone or on a piece of paper.
Don’t Wait to Contact an Attorney for Assistance
If your teen is involved in a car accident, it’s a good idea to be proactive as a parent. You need to take the reins to help them get through the situation. If the accident was not their fault, you might have the legal right to file a lawsuit. To know for sure, reach out to our legal team at Jonathan Perkins Injury Lawyers for help. We will review the facts of the case to help you recover the compensation you deserve for your injuries and losses. Our team has represented thousands of clients just like you and will use our expertise and resources to help ensure your case is successful.
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