My Son Will Turn 16 in June and Will Start to Drive -- As an Experienced Philadelphia Car Accident Attorney I Am Concerned
I have been an experienced Philadelphia car accident attorney since 1979 handling tens of thousands of car accident claims and unfortunately have dealt with significant amount of tragedies involving teenage drivers. It is inevitable that most of us will have to deal with a teenage driver with cross currents of maturity factors, safety features, and other issues and concerns. I am currently working on a case where a 17-year old child was presented by his father with a souped-up sports car and 4 days after he obtained his license he took the car on a joy ride which catastrophically injured a 17-year passenger who will have permanent reminders of the accident for the remainder of his life. So then, what is a concerned parent to do?
First of all, this experienced Philadelphia car accident lawyer recommends enrolling the child immediately into a driver safety program or reputable driving school. If you choose to purchase a car for your child, please obtain a car with anti-lock brakes and the newest safety features possible and make sure the car is thoroughly inspected. In the last 5 or 10 years, there have been tremendous advances in crash protection and you can check the website for the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety (www.iihs.org) and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (www.safercar.gov) to determine crash results and models that you are considering. Both sites post results going back to the 1990's. Look for a car with front, side and head protection airbags, anti-lock brakes, and electronic stability control. These are all lifesaving features which are worth extra money when considering the value of the precious cargo in the car.
As an experienced rollover accident attorney, I highly advise against purchasing an SUV or a vehicle with a high center of gravity or a sport’s car. It is best to secure a vehicle with a 5 star safety rating and of course, always remind your child never to text or use a cell phone while driving and never, ever, ever drive while drinking. Also stress the importance of seat and shoulder belts.
If you or a loved one has been involved in a Pennsylvania car accident, please feel free to contact one of our experienced car accident attorneys for a free no obligation consultation at 1-800-421-9595 or online at www.reiffandbily.com.
