If you are a resident of Florida and have a teen who recently started driving, you probably worry about them. Due to their inexperience, it’s not uncommon for younger drivers to get into a car accident. If your teen has gotten into an accident, there are certain steps you should take.
Take them to get medical attention
The aftermath of a car accident can be deceptive. Even in minor fender benders, injuries can still occur. Your child may think they feel fine, but you should take them to get immediate medical attention. The same thing goes for any passengers if they had any. Their health and safety come first.
Get the right information
Teach your teen to exchange information with the other driver but to keep the conversation to the bare minimum. They should never admit fault or even say “I’m sorry.” It can be misconstrued as fault even if the other driver was responsible for the car accident. Exchanging names, contact information, driver’s license, and license plate information and insurance information is important. Having these things makes it easier to file a claim with an insurance company or with the court.
Your child should also speak with witnesses to the accident to get their information. They should also try to get their statements recorded about what took place. This can be useful evidence for a claim later on.
Notify the right people
After a car accident, your teen should immediately notify you, the police, and the insurance company about it. Later, they can obtain a copy of the police report. The insurance company needs to know as soon as possible about the collision as it should know to expect a claim to be filed.
Making sure your teen knows what to do in the event of a car accident is important. It can make all the difference when you decide to file a claim with the insurance company. You may want to quiz them ahead of time so they know how to act if an accident happens.