Sunnyvale Teen Driving Accident Lawyer
New Drivers Have Rules for a Reason. Breaking Them Can Prove Your Case.
California puts special limits on newly licensed teenagers: when they can drive, who can ride with them, and whether they can touch a phone. When a young driver causes a crash in Sunnyvale, we look at whether those rules were followed, and who else is responsible.
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Inexperience Isn't an Excuse for Carelessness
Every driver has an obligation to use caution and avoid harming others, and that includes the newest ones. Inexperienced teenage drivers are more likely to cause collisions, and when a young driver causes an avoidable crash, the person they injured has the right to recover damages through a civil claim.
The most dangerous habit is one many teens know is risky but do anyway: using a phone behind the wheel. Texting combines all three kinds of distraction at once, visual, physical, and mental, and inexperience makes the risk even greater. Reading or sending a single message can have devastating consequences.
Claims involving teen drivers are also more complex than most, because the teen’s parents and the rules on new licenses can both come into play. You may have a claim if:
A teenage driver hit you or the car you were in
The teen was on a phone, out late at night, or driving with young passengers
The teen had been drinking
The teen's family, or their insurer, is disputing what happened
The consultation is free, and you pay nothing unless we win.
What to Do After a Teen Driver Hits You in Sunnyvale
Call 911 and let the police make a report.
Don’t agree to handle it privately with the teen or their parents, however sympathetic they are.
Note the time.
A crash late at night can matter, because newly licensed teens face limits on when they can drive.
Count the passengers.
Who was in the teen’s car, and roughly how old they were, can be important evidence.
Watch for a phone.
If the teen was holding or looking at a phone, tell the officer. Young drivers aren’t allowed to use one at all, even hands-free.
Get the parents' and the vehicle's information.
Teens often drive a family car and are insured on a parent’s policy. Get the owner’s name and insurance, not just the driver’s.
See a doctor, then call us.
Prompt medical records protect your claim, and we’ll deal with the family’s insurer for you.
Who Pays When a Teenager Causes a Crash?
The family's auto insurance
Most teen drivers are covered on a parent’s policy, and that insurer typically handles the claim.
The parent or guardian who signed
A minor can’t get a license without an adult’s signed consent, and that signature can make the adult responsible for crashes the teen causes until they turn 18.
Your own coverage, if theirs isn't enough
Serious injuries can exceed a family’s policy limits. Your underinsured motorist coverage can help make up the difference.
Damages for everything you've lost
Medical expenses, prescriptions and equipment, lost wages, earning potential and benefits, pain and suffering, permanent disability, and the inconvenience the crash has caused.
Using California's New-Driver Rules as Evidence
California’s Department of Motor Vehicles restricts what newly licensed teenagers may do. For the first year after getting a license, a young driver generally may not:
- Drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m.
- Carry passengers under 20 unless accompanied by a parent or guardian, with limited exceptions
And drivers under 18 may not use a cell phone while driving, not even hands-free. Any alcohol is off-limits to young drivers.
When a teen causes a crash, we investigate whether they were following these rules. A crash at 1 a.m., a car full of friends, or a phone in hand doesn’t just explain why the collision happened; it can be strong evidence of negligence. We pair it with the police report, witness statements, and phone evidence to show exactly how the crash came about.
California Teen Driver Law: What Victims Should Know
New licenses come with restrictions
For the first year, teens face limits on nighttime driving and on carrying young passengers, and drivers under 18 can’t use any phone while driving.
Parents take on responsibility when they sign
The adult who signs a minor’s license application can be held responsible for the teen’s crashes, and may withdraw consent and have the teen’s license cancelled.
Zero tolerance for underage drinking
Young drivers who drive after drinking face license suspension, and drinking is powerful evidence of fault in your claim.
Two years to file
You generally have two years from the date of injury to file a lawsuit. Don’t let a family’s apology or an insurer’s delay run out the clock.
What Our Clients Say
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Sunnyvale Teen Driving Accident FAQs
Can I recover damages if a teenager caused my accident?
Yes. Every driver owes others a duty of care, whatever their age. When a young driver’s carelessness causes a crash, you can pursue compensation through a civil claim, usually paid by the family’s insurance.
Are the teen's parents responsible?
Often. A parent or guardian must sign consent for a minor to drive, and that signature can make them responsible for crashes the teen causes until the teen turns 18.
The crash happened late at night. Does that matter?
It can. Newly licensed teens generally may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. during their first year. Driving outside those hours can be evidence of negligence.
The teen had friends in the car. Is that relevant?
It may be. In their first year, new drivers generally can’t carry passengers under 20 without a parent or guardian, with limited exceptions, and passengers are a common source of distraction.
What if the teen was texting?
Drivers under 18 may not use a phone at all while driving, even hands-free. Texting takes a driver’s eyes, hands, and mind off the road at once, and it’s strong evidence of fault.
What can I recover?
Medical expenses, prescriptions and equipment, lost wages, earning potential and benefits, pain and suffering, permanent disability, and compensation for the inconvenience the crash caused.
How long do I have to file?
Generally two years from the date of injury for a lawsuit. Talk to us early, before the family’s insurer shapes the story.
Get Your Free, Confidential Case Review, 24/7
Claims involving young drivers, parents, and family policies take careful handling. 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
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