Teenagers lack driving experience and skill, and that puts them at a high risk for accidents. They haven’t yet developed the ability to see and avoid dangerous and tricky situations. Because they don’t yet have the mastery of an experienced driver, they can make mistakes that have serious consequences.
Kansas City teens are especially at risk for accidents. In 2023, Missouri was ranked the second worst state for teen drivers. In that year, 133 people were killed in teen driver-related traffic accidents. Additionally, according to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, nearly 3,000 teens aged 13 – 19 died in vehicle crashes in 2022.
The attorneys at Peterson Law Firm know the statistics. They also know that teen drivers are almost three times more likely to be involved in a fatal crash than drivers over 20. That’s why it’s important for parents to understand the legal and financial responsibility associated with handing the car keys over to their teen driver. If your teen causes an accident, you could face significant legal consequences. Here, we discuss Missouri’s laws and parental liability if your teen is involved in a car accident.
Teenage Driving Crashes: Why They Happen in Kansas City
There are many reasons teen driving accident happen, especially in Missouri. Here, we look at the primary reasons these crashes occur and what Kansas City parents should know:
- Teens are easily distracted. Many teens live on their phones. So, it’s often difficult for them to avoid looking at them while driving. Checking for texts may not seem like a big deal, as it only takes a couple seconds to take a quick look at their screens. However, research shows that a teen looking at their phone for five seconds when they’re driving 55 mph is like traveling 120 yards blindfolded. While there are other possible distractions, cell phones offer the greatest potential for inattention to the road.
- Teens lack split-second decision-making skills. A teenager’s brain isn’t fully developed, and the part responsible for decision making isn’t mature until they’re about 25. This can help explain why even careful and cautious teens are still often challenged when making split-second decisions. Their brains haven’t yet constructed all the neural networks needed when quick thinking is necessary. Research shows that adults and teens process information differently—teens make decisions using the emotional part of the brain, particularly when they feel under pressure. Teens also find monitoring multiple tasks challenging, such as watching the road, checking their speed, checking their side mirrors, and looking in the review mirror. Doing this when they have to make quick decisions can strain a teen’s yet undeveloped brain.
- Teens don’t have experience. Teenage drivers don’t have much experience behind the wheel; consequently, they can misjudge tricky driving situations. While adults might slow down when approaching a dangerous intersection or a curvy road, teens don’t often recognize driving hazards until it’s too late.
- Teens face unique challenges when driving at night. Driving at night creates unique challenges for teen drivers. Their lack of experience is exacerbated when driving on poorly lit roads, with limited visibility, and when they’re tired.
- Teens struggle with peer pressure. When teens drive with friends in the car, their attention is divided. Their ability to watch the road and pay attention to traffic is jeopardized because they want to engage in conversation. Passengers may also be playing music, taking selfies, and creating other dangerous distractions that can take your teen driver’s attention off the road. Each additional teenage passenger in the car increases the risk of a teen crash. Missouri's graduated licensing laws address this by limiting passengers for new drivers.
It’s important for parents to understand these factors and develop appropriate boundaries and expectations for their teen drivers while recognizing situations that need more discussion and training.
When Your Teen Is in an Accident: a Parent’s Liability
When a teen driver causes an accident in Kansas City, parents may face significant legal and financial responsibility. Here are some legal rules you should know as they relate to your teenage driver and your possible liability if they cause an crash:
Your Liability if You Own the Car
Under the Family Purpose Doctrine, a vehicle owner is responsible for the actions of their family members when those members are driving the vehicle. The idea is that car owners should have control over their vehicle in the same way the owner of a firearm is responsible for who uses their gun. If a family member is negligent and causes an accident, the vehicle owner can be held liable for the damages, even if they were not present at the time of the crash.
Understanding Negligent Entrustment
Under this concept, a person is held liable for entrusting a dangerous object to someone they knew or should have known was unfit or incompetent to handle it, leading to harm to a third party. This could include a firearm, a car, dangerous tools, or machinery.
Signed Contract
When you sign your teen’s driver’s license application, it’s a responsibility agreement that creates direct liability for parents. Missouri law requires a parent or guardian to sign for drivers under 18, making that adult jointly liable for damages caused by the minor's negligent driving. This responsibility ends with teen turns 18.
Insurance Complications
If your teen is in an accident, it’s likely that your insurance rates will go up. If the accident involved serious injuries, the claim amount may exceed your policy limits, and you may be responsible for satisfying the judgment with your own assets.
The attorneys at Peterson Law Firm understand the ways parents may be liable for their teen’s driving accident and can help them make informed decisions about how and when to allow their teens to get behind the wheel.
Graduated Driver License (GDL) Program
Missouri, like many states, has a graduated driver’s licensing (GDL) program. This program is a series of steps teens need to complete to obtain full driving privileges. Research shows that GDL programs are effective and help decrease teen crash rates and promote safe, responsible driving.
Foundational Phase: the Instruction Permit
In this phase, a teen must be at least 15 years old and pass a vision and written test. During this six-month period, they must complete 40 hours of supervised driving with a licensed driver who's at least 21 years old. Ten of those hours must be night driving.
The Intermediate Phase
A teen can obtain an intermediate license when they’re 16 and older and have held an instruction permit for at least six months without traffic convictions. Rules during these six months include:
- The teen can’t drive between 1:00 - 5:00 a.m.
- There are passenger limits for how many people can be in the car
Full Driving Privileges Phase
A teen can obtain a full driver’s license if they’ve held an intermediate license for at least 12 months without traffic convictions, at-fault accidents, and/or alcohol-related offenses.
These protective measures are designed to promote teen driving safety. Missouri enforces the GDL program and will suspend a teen’s license for violations in the intermediate phase. Parents should understand that allowing teens to violate these restrictions can result in legal consequences for both the teen and themselves.
What Parents Can Do to Help Reduce the Risk of a Teen Driving Accident
Proactive prevention efforts can help reduce the chances that your teen will cause a driving accident and help decrease your liability issues as a parent. Here are some ways you can help reduce the risk of a teen accident:
Monitor their technology use. Parents can monitor their teens’ driving using smartphone apps and vehicle tracking systems. Some systems track the speed of the car, acceleration, and their location. Other systems allow you to disable texting capabilities when the vehicle is moving.
Make a teen-parent driving agreement. This can help you establish clear expectations and consequences with your teen. A written contract could cover the specific rules you expect your teen to follow and the consequences of using a cell phone while driving. When you put these expectations in writing, it can help promote accountability.
Follow the rules yourself. One effective prevention strategy is to model good driving behavior. When you use your seat belt, drive without using your cell phone, and follow traffic laws, teens may be more likely to adopt these same safe behaviors.
Call Us if Your Teen Is Involved in an Accident
Knowing the laws and rules for teen driving can help if your teen is involved in traffic accident and helps protect their legal rights and yours as a parent. It’s also important to consult with a Kansas City accident lawyer, especially if the accident resulted in significant damage, serious injuries, or if there’s a dispute about who was at fault. We can help navigate the legal process, liability issues, and Missouri's laws regarding teen drivers. Legal representation is also important if the other party threatens litigation. Read our case results to learn how we’ve helped parents just like you.