There’s not a teenager in the world who hasn’t done something stupid between the ages of 13 and 19. Unfortunately, teenage negligence can have devastating consequences, especially in a metropolitan area like Indianapolis. Our Indianapolis teen driver car accident lawyers are here to help accident survivors like you hold negligent teens accountable for serious crashes.
We’ve helped Hoosiers recover over $25 million in our 100 years of service. You can count on our Indianapolis car accident lawyers to demystify the civil statutes standing between you and your right to recover. Are you ready to learn more? Book a free, no-obligation case assessment with Vaughan & Vaughan today.
Who’s Responsible for a Teen Driver Car Accident?
Teenagers under the age of 18 constitute minors in the eyes of Indiana’s civil statutes. Our Indianapolis personal injury lawyers know that the state allows minors some grace in the wake of car accidents, but minors aren’t immune to legal consequences.
According to the Indiana Motor Vehicle Code, a minor’s parents or guardians must take financial responsibility for a minor’s behavior on the road – so long, that is, as the adult party signed the child’s driver’s license application financial responsibility form.
What does this mean for you? If you’re hit by a teen driver, and their guardian has agreed to assume responsibility for their behavior on the road, you can sue their guardian for support. However, you may not sue the parents or guardians of a minor who’s sought emancipation or is estranged from their parents.
What Other Exceptions Do You Have to Consider After a Teen Driver Car Accident?
Indiana places specific limitations on the responsibility a parent can assume for a child’s negligence on the road. You have an obligation to prove that your accident directly resulted from the teen driver’s behavior. Moreover, you have to argue that the teen deliberately, knowingly, or recklessly endangered you.
If you can prove these points, you stand to recover up to $5,000 from a minor’s parents. Indiana laws tend to cap your recoverable damages at $5,000 to prevent undue financial strain from befalling a teen’s parents.
When Can Parents Waive Responsibility for a Teen Driver Car Accident?
Parents can argue against their responsibility to fund your recovery. You may take legal action against an offending teen if that teen is:
- Over the age of 18,
- Emancipated, estranged, or not living with a parent, or
- Has a parent who submitted a request to waive responsibility for their child’s behavior on the road
Unfortunately, because most teens aren’t liquid, you may struggle to get the financial support you need to recover.
Your Case Will Get
The Attention It Deserves
How to Account for Damage Limits After a Teen Driver Car Accident
If you do have the right to sue a teen’s parents for damages after a teen driver’s car accident, you do not stand to recover more than $5,000. You may only request compensation based on the economic losses you sustained in your accident, including the following:
- Emergency medical expenses, including ambulance fees
- Long-term medical bills
- Property damage and vehicular repairs
- Lost wages or opportunities to return to work
Unfortunately, the state does not allow you to recover non-economic damages like pain and suffering when taking legal action against a teen’s parents. These limitations can leave you in a financial bind as you struggle to get back on your feet.
Fortunately, you can work with a teen driver car accident lawyer in Indianapolis, IN, to explore ways to maximize your recovery.
There is no fee
unless you win
When to Call an Experienced Indianapolis Teen Driver Car Accident Lawyer
We recommend you call an Indianapolis teen driver car accident attorney immediately after an accident involving a teen driver. Our staff understands how complicated these cases can become and what limitations may prevent you from recovering the damages you deserve.
What’s more, you’re working against the state’s personal injury statute of limitations from the moment you get out of your car. Indiana’s personal injury statute of limitations gives you no more than two years to gather the evidence you need to hold a teen or their parents responsible for your losses.
The faster you get in touch with an attorney, the sooner we can start fighting for your right to maximize the damages you walk away with after an accident.
What Services to Expect From an Indianapolis Teen Driver Car Accident Lawyer
Our team provides Hoosiers with a suite of legal services, all of which strive to help you recover as much financial support as you can after a teen driver’s car accident. You can expect our staff to:
- Manage an investigation into your accident
- Fend off insurance claims adjusters who want to take advantage of your stress
- Calculate the total value of the compensation you deserve after a serious accident
- Prevent a teen’s parents or guardians from minimizing your losses
- Arrange settlement negotiations with applicable parties
These services make it easier for you to focus on your physical recovery after an accident. You can count on our team to keep you up to date as your case develops – but we won’t add to your stress.
Our team works on contingency specifically to make your recovery as straightforward as possible. You do not have to pay any upfront fees to work with our team. We don’t get paid for our services until we win your case.
Schedule a Free Case Assessment With Our Team Today
Getting into an accident with a teen driver puts you in an awkward position. Fortunately, Indiana has civil statutes in place designed to help accident victims recover from serious losses, even in accidents where an offending driver doesn’t have much liquid capital. We can work within those statutes to get you the financial support you need to recover from your losses.
If you have questions about your right to hold a teenager or their parents accountable for your recent accident, don’t wait to reach out. You can book a free case evaluation with our teen driver car accident attorneys in Indianapolis, IN, today.
