Texas Car Accident Lawyers: What Parents Should Know When a Teen Driver Is Injured

Teens and young adults (ages 15 to 20) were involved in 19% of Texas car accidents in 2024. This is despite making up only 9% of the population, according to the Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT). While young drivers generally have less driving experience, inexperience is not the same as negligence. Parents of teens and young adults can hire a lawyer to help ensure they receive fair compensation when they weren’t at fault.

If your teen has suffered injuries in an auto accident due to another’s negligence, the Texas car accident lawyers at Carabin Shaw can help. We have spent decades building the skills to negotiate with insurance companies to help our clients get the compensation they deserve. Call today or contact us online to schedule a free case review. We have English- and Spanish-speaking staff, and someone is available to speak with you 24/7.

Police reports are often an important piece of evidence in personal injury cases, and a Texas car accident injury lawyer may submit them to the court as proof of negligence. These reports may include assumptions or extra scrutiny of a teen's driving ability. That is why it is important to have an experienced attorney review your case, so you can eliminate assumptions claiming there was a negligent teen driver that evidence does not confirm.

Law enforcement undergoes training to prevent profiling based on age, race, or gender, but teen driving accidents may reinforce the stigma surrounding teens behind the wheel. New drivers have limited freedom on Texas roads, with driver education and learner license requirements before obtaining an unrestricted Class C Texas driver license. However, these limitations are guardrails to help teen drivers gain experience. They are not indicators of negligence or poor driving ability.

A teen driver accident lawyer may be able to prove that your teen was not at fault in a car accident, which will reduce the impact of an accident on your insurance premium. Teens can also reduce insurance premiums by getting good grades, taking a safety course, or choosing a car with a high safety rating.

After an accident, your policy rate may not increase until the policy renews. Then, the insurance company will consider all accidents to calculate a rate based on risk. Hiring a lawyer to prove another person was at fault in an accident involving a teen can help keep insurance costs down.

Parents may be responsible for damages related to an accident involving their at-fault teenage driver, and a lawyer may argue they are liable for negligently entrusting a vehicle to a teen. However, insurance companies typically require parents to list a licensed teen on their policy, so insurance coverage is usually available after an accident. A Texas auto accident attorney will file a claim with the at-fault party’s insurance company, but if your teen shared in the fault, your insurance company may have to pay some damages.

Compensatory damages your attorney may include in a teen accident claim include:

• Medical bills
• Property damage
• Physical pain and suffering
• Mental anguish

If your teen has suffered injuries in an accident, it is important that you ask a lawyer what to do if my teen is injured in a car accident. A legal professional will help you challenge any automatic judgments by law enforcement or insurance companies and help you and your teen protect your right to compensation.

Contact Carabin Shaw today to set up a free consultation, so you can pursue injury compensation for your teen. You pay nothing unless we win your case, so there is no financial risk associated with seeking legal help. Read our law firm’s client reviews to find out more about our expert legal services.

For more information:

• Cornell Law School
• Texas Department of Transportation
• Texas Department of Public Safety
• Texas Department of Insurance