Iowa Car Accidents Involving Teens

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. teenage drivers are more likely to cause motor vehicle accidents than any other age group and, unfortunately, car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers. Fatalities are not limited to the driver, however, as many teen drivers are also responsible for causing injury to others.

Thinking about teenagers on the road can be a cause for concern, especially when your own teen starts driving. No one wants their child to get hurt or injure someone else, however accidents do occur so it is not only important to instill safe driving practices, but also have insurance to cover your financial needs in the event of a catastrophic accident. As your kids approach this milestone in their lives, insurance experts recommend that parents consider these tips when insuring new drivers:

• Parents should notify their insurance company as soon as their child gets their learners permit. If the insurance company does not know that you have a licensed young driver, they may not cover an accident caused by your teen.
• When parents add teenage drivers to their car insurance policy, their rates typically increase an average of 78 percent. If you are adding a teen, it may be a good time to shop around for coverage as some insurance providers may have better rates than others, allowing you to get more coverage for your money.
• If your son or daughter earns good grades, many insurance companies offer discounts to the tune of 25 percent. If they take a driver’s education course, they may take another 15 percent off the cost of insurance. Some insurance companies may even offer a discount if you install computerized equipment to monitor seat belt use and speed.
• Decide on the car your teen will drive and limit them to that vehicle. Of course, the obvious choice will be the vehicle in your fleet that is the least expensive to insure, however, be sure to avoid too old of a car because you will want to make sure that your teen’s vehicle has all the newer safety features such as anti-lock brakes, electronic stability control and airbags that can save their life in an accident.
• Despite having insurance coverage, many teenage drivers find that they are underinsured after being involved in a serious car accident. In many states, wherever the teen driver’s liability insurance policy ends, the owner of the car may be required to make up the difference if a car accident occurs. A good option may be to get an umbrella liability policy to provide more coverage.
• On the safety side, emphasize the basic rules of the road and urge your child to avoid the leading causes of accidents such as impaired driving, texting or talking while driving or having too many passengers in the car. Consider installing and using apps to turn off your teen’s phone when they are driving.

Being thoughtful about the process of teaching your teen about their responsibilities as drivers will encourage them to drive safely and hopefully avoid an injury accident. If you or a family member have questions regarding an Iowa personal injury matter, contact the Des Moines Law Offices of John T. Hemminger for assistance today.