Teen Car Accidents Lawyers in Dothan, Alabama

Determined advocacy for victims of young drivers’ negligence

Teen drivers often are not consistently mindful of the dangers and responsibilities that come with their license. In our practice, we often deal with the aftermath of a young driver’s lapse in judgment. On busy thoroughfares, such as US 231, US 431 and US 84, or on the surface streets of their own neighborhoods, accidents due to youthful inexperience and inattentiveness regularly occur. Nationwide, in 2016, there were 2,288 traffic fatalities that involved drivers aged 15 to 18 years old. If you or a loved one has sustained a serious injury in a crash caused by a young driver, you can trust our teen car accident attorneys in Dothan. For nearly two decades, we have provided determined representation for accident victims, and we are committed to recovering the compensation you deserve.

Common causes of teen driver accidents

Studies have confirmed that the risk recognition centers in teenage brains are not fully developed and won’t be until their early 20s. Therefore, teens are naturally less cautious than adults and more susceptible to accidents caused by:

  • Distracted driving — Inexperienced drivers have to train themselves to screen out distractions and focus on the road. Eating, drinking, grooming, reaching for objects, fiddling with the stereo, carrying on conversations and gazing at surroundings are activities that cause distracted driving accidents.
  • Cellphone use — Teens often pay undue attention to their devices. Texting or talking while driving vastly increase the risk of an accident.
  • Drowsy driving — Teenagers often have trouble with their internal clocks. Often, they’re wide awake at night and aren’t fully alert until the morning is half over.
  • DUI — Teens may not fully understand the effects that even moderate alcohol use can have on their faculties. The law subjects teens to a tougher standard for DUI, so blood alcohol as low as 0.02 percent can result in a DUI conviction.

A teen’s license status may factor into liability for an accident. Alabama issues restricted licenses to 16 year olds who pass their road tests. A restricted license comes with a long list of prohibitions. Carpooling with friends is not allowed, nor is driving between 12:00 a.m. and 6:00 a.m. under most circumstances. Cellphone use is strictly prohibited. Once a driver reaches age 17 and has had a restricted license for at least six months, they can be eligible for an unrestricted one unless they have a committed violations that cause the restriction period to be extended.

If you’ve been in an accident with a teen driver, an experienced Dothan car accident attorney at our firm can thoroughly investigate the incident to determine who is liable. We negotiate aggressively with insurance companies to obtain the compensation you deserve. If your injuries exceed the at-fault driver’s insurance policy limits, we take decisive steps to attach assets that could satisfy a judgment. No matter how complex the case turns out to be, you can have confidence in our knowledge, experience and determination as we work tirelessly to deliver the best possible result.

Contact a dedicated personal injury attorney in Dothan for your teen driver accident

The legal team at Carey & Hamner, P.C. in Dothan represents people injured in teen driver accidents throughout Alabama. Our office is conveniently located at 102 South Orange Avenue in Dothan, just off of West Main Street. Call 855-435-4797 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation.