Teen Car Accidents in Syracuse, New York

Jed Dietrich, Esq., Is a Recognized Super Lawyer Who Has Spent Decades Protecting the Rights of Teen Car Crash Victims. If You or a Loved One Has Been Injured by a Negligent or Inexperienced Young Driver in a Collision That Was Not Your Fault, The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. Could Help You Explore Your Best Options for Effective Legal Relief. 

For many teenagers, earning a driver’s license is a proud milestone on the path to adulthood.

However, taking the wheel is not just an exciting new opportunity; it is a big responsibility. Even if they have learned the rules of the road, young drivers often struggle to control their impulses, anticipate dangerous situations, and react to unexpected obstacles. Any lapse in judgment, no matter how momentary, could prove catastrophic.

Although the costs of a serious motor vehicle accident can exceed most families’ means, you may have options beyond financial ruin. The Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has spent decades helping survivors assert their rights to a fair recovery; we can help you too. Please contact us today to speak to a car crash lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your free, no-obligation consultation. 

New York has spent years finding new ways to educate young drivers about the risks of dangerous driving habits.

Over the past several decades, enforcement campaigns and law enforcement initiatives have had a significant impact on lowering statewide collision rates. Since the early 2000s, rates of young driver involvement in fatal and personal injury crashes have declined by an estimated 80% making New York one of the safest states for teenage motorists.

However, young drivers remain susceptible to making certain kinds of mistakes, mistakes that jeopardize their own lives and endanger others.

AAA Northeast, for instance, recently reviewed single-year crash data collected from across the Empire State. In its report, the AAA found that drivers between the ages of 16 and 20 were involved in more than 45,000 accidents. And, of those collisions causing either incapacitating injuries or death, teens were disproportionately likely to be found at fault.

According to the New York State Department of Health, the most significant risk factors in teen driving accidents include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Inexperience: Teenagers cannot always recognize, anticipate, or react to dangerous situations. In some cases, the decisions they make after encountering an unexpected hazard could actually increase their chances of causing or being involved in an accident.
2. Distraction: Distraction can affect the performance of any motorist, irrespective of their age or their level of driving experience. However, studies suggest that teenagers are much more likely to engage in distracting activities while driving and to do so in a way that increases their chances of crashing.
3. Speeding: Teenagers speed and tailgate at a higher rate than other motorists. In fact, the New York State Department of Health has identified “unsafe speed” as the single most significant contributing factor to accidents involving young drivers.

You do not have to pay the price for a young driver’s inexperience or poor decision-making skills.

Since our founding in 2005, the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. has fought to protect the rights of car crash survivors. Our experienced team of attorneys could help you or a loved one obtain the compensation you need to reclaim your independence and begin rebuilding your life.

Please send us a message today to schedule your 100% free, no-obligation consultation. 

New York is a no-fault state, which means that each driver must file a claim with their own insurance company before attempting to take further legal action. However, if a victim has suffered certain serious injuries through no fault of their own, they may have sufficient standing to seek additional compensation from the negligent person or party who caused their collision.

In most personal injury lawsuits, the defendant is the at fault driver. But cases involving young motorists can be much more complex. Even if a teenager clearly made a reckless mistake, their negligence could have been enabled or exacerbated by another party, like an inattentive parent or an unruly passenger.

Depending on the circumstances of your Syracuse car crash, the potential defendants in a young driver lawsuit could include any one or more of the following:

A young driver can be named as a defendant in a lawsuit, even if they are under the age of 18.

In most cases, any damages negotiated in a settlement or obtained through trial will be paid, at least in part, by the insurance company covering the vehicle.

Parents are not typically liable for car accident-related damages caused by their child. However, a parent could be found liable for collision-related injuries if the parent’s negligence either caused or contributed to the crash.

You may be able to file a claim against an automobile manufacturer, a car-parts maker, or a mechanic if an inherently defective or improperly-installed component caused the crash.

If a passenger acted negligently by interfering with a teen driver’s ability to safely operate their vehicle, then the passenger, irrespective of whether they are an unrelated minor, a family member, or somebody else, could also be found at fault for the accident.

In rare instances, another party may bear partial or full responsibility for a Syracuse teen driving accident. For example, if a private business served or sold alcohol to a minor without checking their identification, then the business could be found liable if the minor becomes intoxicated and subsequently causes a motor vehicle accident.

Do not take any chances with your rights to a fair recovery: send the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. a message online, or call us at 1-866-529-5334 to speak to a car accident lawyer near Syracuse and schedule your free consultation as soon as possible.

Call the Dietrich Law Firm P.C. immediately at 1-866-529-5334 so that our aggressive, tenacious, and hardworking personal injury lawyers can fight to obtain the best result for your personal injury claim in Syracuse, New York. We are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, and there is never a fee until we WIN for you!