Teen Car Accidents in Maryland

The driving terrain in Maryland – which includes mountains, densely wooded areas, waterways and on-going road work – can be a challenge to navigate for even the most experienced drivers. Add to that lack of experience and the propensity for distracted and DUI driving, and the probability of sustaining injuries in car accident involving a teen driver or drivers is high.

If you have been involved such a crash, contacting an attorney is the best way to become informed about your ability to seek compensation. If you have suffered injuries as a result of a teen car collision, contact knowledgeable car accident lawyers as soon as possible to learn more about your potential compensation.

Teen Driving Accidents

The national teen driving crash rate is triple the crash rate of more experienced drivers and 80 percent of those killed in such crashes were the passengers of teen drivers.  Some of the most common causes for teen driving accidents include:

  • Distracted driving
  • Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
  • Speeding
  • Texting while driving

If your teen was injured as a passenger in another teenager’s car, filing a claim can be a complex issue that would be handled best by obtaining professional legal representation.

Consequences

While alcohol has been proven to impair driving abilities, an inexperienced driver who is also inexperienced with their personal level of alcohol consumption can be an extreme hazard on the road. In Maryland, teens driving under the influence of alcohol and/or drugs face the possibility of severe penalties regardless of their level of consumption. These penalties can include:

  • Fines
  • License suspension
  • Probation
  • Incarceration
  • Court-ordered alcohol diversion education

Teen Driving Laws

Due to the statistical evidence regarding teen drivers in Maryland, a number of restrictions have been imposed to lower the risks. Some of the teenage driving restrictions in Maryland include:

  • Passenger restrictions
  • Strict seatbelt requirements
  • Driving curfews

Parents of teen drivers are supplied with an explanatory parent/teen driving agreement so there is no excuse for breaking these state regulated restrictions. If you were involved in a teen driving accident, the time of the event and the number of seat-belt wearing passengers could play a key role in your potential case, depending upon the type of license the teenager had been granted by the state.

Working with an Accident Lawyer

If you have sustained injuries as a result of a negligent teen driver, you might require compensation for:

  • Hospital bills
  • Medical procedures
  • Wages lost
  • Pain and suffering

Injuries sustained in many automobile accidents can result in lifelong health problems. Some of the most common accident-related injuries are:

  • Whiplash
  • Broken bones
  • Back injuries
  • Neck injuries
  • Concussions
  • Head trauma

There is also a great deal of emotional stress associated with being involved in a collision. In many injury cases, physical and emotional trauma becomes part of the struggle, especially if the injuries incurred result in a loss or limitation of mobility.

Contacting an Attorney

If you were injured due to the negligence of a teen driver, hiring a qualified attorney is the best course of action for building the strongest possible injury claim and for maximizing your potential for compensation. The rules and regulations for teen drivers vary from those of adult drivers and a qualified legal professional can offer you a full understanding of these differences. This is especially true if the teen driver involved in the collision was under the influence of an intoxicant or driving with a restricted license.