San Mateo Teen Driving Accident Lawyer
Their Age Doesn't Cancel Your Claim.
Many people assume there’s no point pursuing a young driver. Not so: teen drivers must carry insurance like everyone else, and they can be held responsible for negligence. We help people hurt by teen drivers in San Mateo recover what they’ve lost.
$75+ million
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A New License Doesn't Come With Experience
Getting a driver’s license is a milestone for any young person. But new drivers haven’t yet built the judgment and reaction time that come with years behind the wheel, and some take risks that experienced drivers avoid. When that inexperience causes a crash, the people around them pay the price.
If a teen driver hit you, you may be wondering whether it’s even possible to recover from someone so young. It is. The law holds young drivers to the same duty of care as everyone else, and every driver in California must carry insurance, regardless of age. You may have a claim if:
The teen was speeding, driving recklessly, or on their phone
They had friends in the car who were distracting them
They were driving at night, tired, or in bad weather they weren't ready for
They had been drinking or using drugs
We handle the claim against the young driver’s insurer so you can focus on getting better. The consultation is free.
What to Do After a Crash With a Young Driver
Call 911, however minor it seems.
Don’t let an apologetic teen, or their parents arriving at the scene, talk you into handling it privately. Insist on a police report.
Get the insurance on the car, not only the driver's name.
Young drivers are often covered on a family policy or driving a parent’s vehicle. Photograph the insurance card and registration.
Note who else was in the car.
Passengers, loud music, phones in hand, or signs of drinking can all explain why the crash happened. Tell the officer what you saw.
Record the conditions.
Time of day, lighting, weather, and road conditions can matter when a new driver was behind the wheel.
Get checked by a doctor promptly.
Some injuries take days to show symptoms. Early treatment protects your health and your claim.
Talk to us before you settle.
The young driver’s insurer may make a quick offer. Once you accept, you can’t reopen the claim if your injuries turn out worse.
Who Pays When a Young Driver Causes a Crash?
The teen's auto insurance
Every California driver must carry insurance, regardless of age. The policy covering the young driver, often a parent’s policy, is usually the first source of payment for your medical bills, lost wages, pain and suffering, and vehicle damage.
The parent or guardian who signed
In California, a parent or guardian generally must sign a minor’s license application, and that signature can make them responsible for the teen’s negligent driving.
Your own coverage, if theirs falls short
A serious injury can exceed a family’s policy limits. Your underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage can help fill the gap, and uninsured motorist (UM) coverage applies if there was no insurance at all.
How We Handle Claims Involving Teen Drivers
A claim against a young driver works like any negligence claim: we prove the driver failed to drive with reasonable care, and that the failure caused your injuries. Inexperience isn’t a defense. It’s often part of the explanation.
- Identify the coverage. We find every insurance policy that may cover the teen, including a family policy and the policy on the vehicle they were driving.
- Show what went wrong. Speeding, phone use, distracting passengers, fatigue, impairment, or a failure to handle night driving or bad weather: we gather the police report, witness accounts, and scene evidence that show it.
- Value the whole loss. Medical care, missed work, and the pain and disruption of the crash all belong in your claim.
- Settle or go to court. Many injury cases settle without a trial, and settlement can be the right choice depending on the cause of the crash and the severity of your injuries. If the insurer’s offer is inadequate, we’re prepared to file a lawsuit.
Teen Drivers and California Injury Law
Age doesn't lower the standard
A teen driver owes the same duty of reasonable care as any other driver, and can be held responsible for negligence.
Insurance is required at every age
California requires all drivers to carry insurance. That coverage is how most claims against young drivers are paid.
Partial fault doesn't bar you
Insurers sometimes argue that you should have anticipated a new driver’s mistake. Under California’s pure comparative negligence rule, any fault assigned to you only reduces your recovery.
Two years to file
You generally have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit if a settlement can’t be reached.
What Our Clients Say
Jimin is extremely straightforward, confident, and detailed. Do not judge her by her young looks! She's very knowledgeable and experienced. I experienced my first major car accident and needed a…
Venus Nguyen
Her services were outstanding. About a half year ago when I got into an accident, I had consultations with several personal injury law firms. I went with Jimin because I…
Hyunah Jang
I really needed a attorney when I got involved in a very strange car accident. Many other law office refused because 2 big insurance companies were against to me so…
Shee Suh
San Mateo Teen Driving Accident FAQs
Can I recover damages from a teenage driver?
Yes. A young driver who drives negligently can be held responsible, and because California requires every driver to carry insurance regardless of age, there is usually a policy to pay the claim.
Who pays: the teen or their parents?
Usually the insurance that covers the teen, which is often a parent’s policy. In California, the parent or guardian who signed a minor’s license application can also be responsible for the teen’s negligent driving.
What are the most common causes of teen driver crashes?
Inexperience, speeding and reckless driving, phone use, distracting passengers, fatigue, nighttime driving, impairment, and difficulty handling bad weather or poor road conditions.
The teen had several friends in the car. Does that matter?
It can. Passengers are a well-known source of distraction for young drivers. Witness accounts of what was happening in the car can help show why the crash occurred.
Will my case go to court?
Probably not. Many personal injury cases settle without a trial. Whether settling makes sense depends on the cause of the crash and how serious your injuries are, and if the offer is inadequate, we’re ready to file a lawsuit.
What if the teen's insurance isn't enough to cover my injuries?
Your own underinsured motorist coverage may make up the difference. We review every policy that might apply before you accept anything.
How long do I have to file?
Generally two years from the date of injury for a lawsuit. It’s best to start sooner, while evidence and memories are fresh.
Get Your Free, Confidential Case Review, 24/7
Don’t let a driver’s age convince you there’s nothing to recover. Call now or send the form; we respond fast, 24/7, in English, Spanish, or Korean. Your consultation is free and confidential. No fee unless we win.
Call (408) 256-2871Free Case Review
Solution Now Law Firm
1253 Park Ave
San Jose, CA 95126
Hablamos español · 한국어 상담 가능
