Seeing your teen behind the wheel can be exciting and make you feel proud, but it can also feel scary too. Even if you feel like your teen is a safe driver, accidents can still happen. Not only do teens need to look out for other drivers, but they also need to remain alert, be cautious of weather conditions, and they need to always wear their seatbelt. Before your teen takes off after getting their license, make sure they know what they’re supposed to do if they’re in a motor vehicle accident.
Set Clear and Specific Rules for Them
Before your teen hits the road with their newfound freedom, make sure to set some clear and specific rules they must follow. With clear communication, you should be able to set some fair rules and restrictions. Make sure to talk to them about limiting their distractions, avoiding texting at all, and never getting behind the wheel when they are anything but alert. If your teen is involved in an accident, make sure to call Siegfried & Jensen for a free case review.
Make Sure Everyone Involved Is Ok
You may have taught your teen to be the safest driver ever, but accidents do happen. The first thing anyone should do when they’ve been involved in an accident is to make sure everyone is okay. If anyone is injured, they’ll need to call 911 immediately. If no one is injured, they should take time to assess the scene. Never move any cars if possible until pictures are taken. When taking pictures of the accident, make sure your teen knows to get photos of the position of the cars, damage, and anything else you feel is relevant. These photos can end up being really important to prove the accident was not your fault.
Take Down Information
After the accident, your teen will need to gather important information. Important information for them to gather includes the name, address, license plate, insurance provider, and phone number of the other driver. Your teen should also get information from anyone that witnessed the crash, including their name and phone number. They should also take time to write down accurate information about the crash while the details are still fresh in their head.
Calling Your Insurance Provider
After the accident, you’ll want to give your automobile insurance provider a call. You can wait until your teen gets home or even do it the next day, but try to do it as soon as possible. There’s a lot of information you’ll need to provide to your agent including the name, phone number, and address of the other drivers, the other driver’s insurance information, and the time, date, and location of the accident. You should also give them information about the law enforcement agency that responded to the accident.
Accidents are scary, and no one ever wants to be in one. From minor to major car accidents, it’s always important to be prepared. Take the time to teach your teenager the best ways to be safe on the road. Stress to them the importance of driving while alert, wearing their seatbelt, and driving when alert. Make sure you spend time talking to them about what they need to do if they’re involved in an accident. Have your teen start slow and make sure they have clear rules set in place to keep them safe.
