Does Your Teen Driver Know What To Do After An Accident?

1. Does Your Teen Driver Know What To Do After An Accident?

2. Here’s What Your Teen Should Do After A Car Accident  As a parent, having a teen driver in the family can be scary. After all, drivers between the ages of 16–19 are more likely to be involved in a car accident than any other age group.  There are steps you can take to help keep your teen as safe as possible on the road. But no matter how careful you are, accidents can still happen. It may not even be your teen’s fault—there are plenty of dangerous drivers of all ages out there.  That’s why it’s a good idea to make sure your teen knows what to do if they’re ever in an accident.

3. Stay Calm  In a potentially dangerous situation like an accident, panicking will only make matters worse. Right away, your teen should take deep breaths, try to control their heart rate, and assess the seriousness of the accident as rationally as possible. Check For Injuries  After an accident, your teen should always check to see if they—or any passengers—are injured.  The shock and adrenaline of an accident can mask the pain of an injury, so someone could be hurt without realizing it.

4. Don’t Drive Off  No matter who is at fault for an accident, Minnesota law requires that every driver must stop their vehicle. If your teen tries to leave the scene too quickly, they could be charged with a hit-and-run.

5. Get to Safety  Your teen should make sure that their vehicle has come to a stop in a safe area. If not— and if the vehicle is still drivable—they can turn on their hazard lights and drive carefully out of the way of traffic.

6. Ensure Others Are Safe  Next, your teen should see if anyone else has been injured. This includes the driver of the other vehicle as well as any passengers, pedestrians, or cyclists who may have been involved. Call 911  If there are injuries, they should contact emergency services right away. Even if there are no injuries, it’s still important to call 911 after an accident. Filing a record of the accident with the police can make a big difference if they end up filing a Personal Injury Claim.

7. Call A Parent  Once the 911 dispatcher lets your teen go, they can call you to explain what happened. Reassure them that everything is going to be fine, then stay on the line so you can help them through the rest of the steps. Collect Information  If your teen isn’t seriously injured, they should gather as much information as possible. That includes:  Exchanging insurance with the other driver.  Recording the make, model, and license plate number of the other vehicle.

8. Collect Information  Taking photos of the accident scene, including the vehicles involved.  Jotting down the contact information of any witnesses.

9. Don’t Accept Blame  No matter what happened, your teen should never say anything to other drivers or witnesses that could be interpreted as accepting blame for the accident. In fact, it’s generally best not to say anything about the accident itself to anyone but the police. Seek Medical Attention  Even if your teen doesn’t think they’re injured, it’s almost always wise to see a doctor after an accident. As mentioned before, shock and adrenaline often mask pain. Plus, with some injuries, it can take hours or days before any noticeable symptoms appear.

10. Thank You!