How Having a Minor in the Car Affects a Car Accident Lawsuit

If you have been involved in a car accident caused by another party’s negligence, you can file a lawsuit to receive compensation for your damages. The amount and legal repercussions of these accidents can increase if there were minors in the victim’s vehicle at the time of the incident. Here is more information about how a car accident attorney from Reasonover Law can help if you or your underage children were involved in an accident:

Minors in the Car

Car accidents can leave you and your family injured and unable to work or return to daily activities. When you and your children are injured because of the negligent actions of another driver, you can seek compensation for each injured person in your vehicle. This covers medical expenses, lost wages, emotional distress, and future care needs. When you work with Reasonover Law, make sure you clarify how many children were injured and in the vehicle with you at the time of the accident. This allows our team to create an accurate claim for each individual’s physical, mental, and emotional damages.

Children in motorized vehicles must be in appropriately sized car seats and secured with seatbelts. If it is found that children involved in an accident were not secured properly, the driver is held responsible for their injuries and well-being, regardless of whether they caused the accident. This may result in hefty fines or criminal charges for drivers who neglect the safety of their underage passengers. If a minor was driving the car that caused the accident, the parents may be held liable for the injuries and other damages experienced by the involved parties. Teens whose parents have car insurance can rely on the insurers to compensate victims and cover the costs of vehicle repairs. 

Steps To Take After an Accident

Document your accident to simplify the legal process and get a successful claim. Keep records of any official police or medical reports and share them with your car accident attorney. These steps help your lawyer understand the impact of the accident and prepare a strong case. Here are more tips on what to do immediately after a car accident with a minor in the vehicle:

Find a Safe Place

If you have been injured in an accident with minors in the vehicle, move your car to a safe area away from the flow of traffic. This prevents other drivers from colliding with your stopped vehicle and causing further damage and traffic disruptions. If your vehicle can’t move, get yourself and your children out of the car and off the road. Inspect everyone involved in the accident for potential injuries so they can receive medical attention, if necessary. If you are seriously injured or unable to exit the vehicle, call 911 and wait until emergency medical personnel can assess your injuries and free you from the car.

Contact the Police

When police arrive at an accident site, they will create a report that documents the events of the crash. This report helps create a claim with your lawyer, as it provides credible supporting evidence. This evidence includes the time and date of the accident, who was driving which vehicle, how much damage was caused, and the extent of visible injuries. Reasonover Law’s car accident attorneys will request copies of police reports to confirm the accuracy of each client’s compensation claim.

Gather Evidence

If you can, speak with the responsible party and exchange contact and insurance information. This streamlines the process of identifying the insurer and filing a claim. After gathering the driver’s insurance, take photographs of the accident scene, including damage to your vehicle and any others involved in the crash. Photograph your injuries and the injuries of the minors in your vehicle. Thorough documentation helps prove your case if the liable party or their insurance company denies your claims. Other evidence includes medical reports, treatment bills, and other financial records related to your and your children’s recovery.

Call a Car Accident Attorney

Find a reputable legal team, like Reasonover Law, to handle your personal injury claims. Our professionals will assess all the evidence in your case to build a strong case against the negligent party. Once we have filed your claim, we will negotiate with insurance companies to settle on a fair compensation amount. If the negligent driver did not have automobile insurance, the settlement negotiations may be more difficult. Our team will speak directly with the driver on your behalf to fight for a fair settlement. If the driver or their insurance company is unwilling to compromise and settle on compensation, we will take the case to court and fight for your family’s rights in front of a judge. 

File a Car Accident Lawsuit With Our Help

Reasonover Law has been serving accident victims in the Nashville area for years. Our compassionate team has experience handling claims for personal injury, workers’ compensation, and Social Security disability compensation cases. We work to hold negligent parties responsible for their actions and get our clients the compensation they deserve. Contact the Reasonover Law team today for a free case evaluation.