What would you do if your teenager had just been involved in a car accident? You may think that this is more of an issue for the parents of teenagers than yourself, but the fact remains that it could happen at any time.
So, what should you do if it happens to you?
Call an ambulance and get medical treatment
If someone has been injured or killed, call 911 immediately. Even if everyone is physically fine, it's important to get medical assistance. And remember to ask for the names and telephone numbers of any witnesses at the scene before they leave.
With regards to calling an ambulance, it is imperative that you ask paramedics about injuries first; then inform them that no one seems hurt; then tell them there are some obvious injuries; then inform them that someone seems to be unconscious. Even if everyone is fine, get paramedics there. They will decide who needs treatment and who doesn't. Ask for witnesses' names before they leave the scene of the accident. If anyone has been hurt or killed, call 911 (never downgrade). Never admit fault or guilt when speaking with police or investigating officers/insurance agents/attorneys. If your teenager has been injured or arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) at the scene of a car accident, call an attorney who specializes in personal injury law. It’s not just a Denver drunk driving accident lawyer that will tell you this, but any experienced lawyer in your locality will give the same advice. This particular situation is more than just an emotional one - it can also be a legally complex one, and parents should not be expected to handle it alone when they have other responsibilities to tend to as well, such as taking care of their teen who was hurt in the accident.
Parents Should Call an Attorney If Their Child Was Injured
It may be nerve-wracking if your teenager is involved in a car accident, but it is important to stay calm and seek medical treatment right away if necessary. With so many responsibilities confronting parents at once, it is actually beneficial to have legal representation ready to go beforehand should the case result in injury or arrest of the teen driver for drunk driving at the scene of the accident. After all, parents are not legal experts themselves. They should rely on a car accident lawyer who is familiar with personal injury law instead, especially since this parent/child situation is so emotionally charged.
Make sure everyone is okay
Make sure all passengers in any cars involved in the accident are okay. Call their names and ask them if there is anything they need. Offer to call their parents (particularly if one of them seems very young), but do not let anyone leave before checking with you first, even if they say they're fine. Also, check that no one is hiding injuries! Exhaustion does not mean you can't be hurt. To deal with this difficult scenario, parents should take a deep breath and ensure that their teen and the others involved in the accident have received medical treatment if necessary. As far as the legal issues go, parents may wish to call an attorney who specializes in personal injury law, but they should not handle them alone at this stressful time. Do not worry about anything that happened before or after the car accident occurs; just get your teen to safety and contact a lawyer.
Stay calm
It is normal to feel overwhelmed with emotions after your child has been involved in a car accident. If they were at fault for the accident, it might be hard to understand how your teen could have made such a mistake when they seem so responsible in other areas of their life. You shouldn't blame yourself for not recognizing dangerous behavior sooner, but try not to shift the guilt onto your teen either—as this will result in unnecessary tension between parents and children.
Thus, staying calm will help everyone stay relaxed and keep stressful situations from escalating into even more dangerous ones. If someone insists on taking off, at least find out where they're going so police can contact them once they arrive on the scene. Then, return to your car or wait by it until the police get there. Once law enforcement gets there, have them show you their identification so you know who's a real officer of the law.
Parents should be aware of what to do and not do if their teenager is involved in a car accident. Although parents may not be legal experts, it is important to know the basics of what could happen when this scenario plays out. There are some very simple steps that you should take if your teenager is involved in a car accident. Call an ambulance, call a lawyer or the police, make sure everyone's okay, and stay calm. Keep these tips in mind to ensure everyone's safety!
