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Teen drivers share the roads each day, and the risk of a serious crash is higher when a driver is still building experience. When combined with split-second decisions and high-pressure situations, this can lead to preventable collisions that leave families dealing with injuries, missed work, and major medical costs.
Teen driving accidents in Columbus can negatively impact people’s lives. However, you may have options to pursue compensation if this happened to you. At Bence Law Firm, LLC, our car crash attorney, David Bence, handles the legal side after a collision so you can focus on your recovery.
State Laws That Govern Teen Drivers
Georgia has specific rules for young drivers designed to reduce accidents. Understanding these laws is the first step to protecting your rights.
Graduated License Restrictions
Under Georgia’s Teenage and Adult Driver Responsibility Act (TADRA), teen drivers must progress through a graduated licensing system. Drivers aged 15 to 18 face restrictions based on their license class. A Class CP Learner’s Permit requires supervision by a licensed adult aged 21 or older. A Class D Intermediate License is available at age 16 and comes with curfew and passenger limits. Teens cannot drive between midnight and 5:00 a.m. under any circumstances.
Nighttime and Passenger Limits
During the first six months after receiving a Class D license, only immediate family members may ride in the vehicle. After six months, one non-family passenger under age 21 is allowed. After one year, up to three non-family passengers under age 21 are permitted. These restrictions apply to the license class and not the driver’s age, which means even an 18-year-old with a Class D license must follow them.
Cell Phone Prohibition
Georgia’s hands-free law restricts handheld phone use for all drivers, and it prohibits writing, sending, or reading texts and watching or recording video while driving. If a teen driver violates these safety rules and causes a crash, that violation may help support a negligence claim, depending on the evidence our attorney could help you collect in Columbus.
Who Could Be Liable When a Teen Driver Causes an Accident?
Liability in teen driving accidents may extend beyond the young driver. The teen driver can be held directly responsible if their negligence caused the crash. However, their parents or guardians may also face liability under the state’s negligent entrustment doctrine.
If a parent allows a teen to drive knowing the teen is incompetent, reckless, or violates licensing restrictions, that parent can be held liable for the resulting damages. Our Columbus attorney can investigate whether the teen driver was properly licensed, whether the parents knew of any violations, and whether negligent entrustment applies to your accident case.
Filing a Claim After a Teen Driving Accident
State law sets a two-year deadline for filing personal injury claims, and this deadline applies whether the at-fault driver is a teen or an adult. Missing that deadline means losing your right to compensation entirely.
Teen drivers and their families may have auto insurance coverage that applies to the accident. In some cases, parents may also be directly liable, which can open additional sources of compensation. Our Columbus lawyer can ensure that your accident claim is filed on time and that all liable parties are held accountable.
Speak With Our Columbus Lawyer About a Teen Driving Accident Today
Teen driving accidents in Columbus can cause serious injuries, so if this happened to you, you should not have to handle insurance issues and liability questions alone. Bence Law Firm, LLC, represents people hurt in crashes caused by inexperienced or negligent teen drivers.
David Bence’s family has a long history of legal practice and understands how the state’s teen licensing rules can impact fault and coverage. Contact our office online today to speak with our lawyer about what happened and learn how we can help you take the next step forward.