Every parent’s worst nightmare when their teen gets their driver’s license is that they’ll be involved in a crash. Now your child has been in a collision, and you need to make sure that you help them deal with the aftermath. You’re relieved that they’re going to be okay. You’re also relieved that it wasn’t their fault.
If you already talked with them about what to do if they were involved in a crash, your teen called police to the scene to make an accident report, they have the other driver’s information and they were careful not to apologize – no matter how much the other driver yelled at them.
Don’t let your teen deal with insurers alone
Now it’s a matter of dealing with the insurance company so that you can get compensation for any medical bills, damages to the car and other expenses. Don’t let your teen talk to either your or the other driver’s insurance company alone. Make sure you’re on all calls with them. Insurance companies are often quick to blame teen drivers even when they did nothing wrong.
Don’t accept a settlement from the insurance company or let your teen do so without careful consideration. Don’t let an insurer rush you. You may be anxious to put this behind you, but are you certain yet of what the medical costs will entail? Some physical injuries don’t manifest themselves immediately.
Many teens need to heal emotionally from a crash
If your teen was traumatized by the crash, they could need some psychological care as well. Check with them in the days and weeks following the crash. When they’re physically able to, encourage them to get behind the wheel again – maybe with you along for the ride for a while. The longer they let their anxiety stop them, the harder it will be to start driving again.
If you don’t believe you’re being offered a fair settlement by the insurance company or the other driver, talk with an attorney. They can help you ensure that your teen gets the compensation they deserve. This can be a good lesson to your teen that it’s important to fight for what’s fair.