The experience that seasoned drivers gain from hours spent on the road cannot be achieved with any amount of practice, training or driver safety courses. Yet teen drivers are expected to operate vehicles in a safe manner with hardly any real-world experience. When a young, inexperienced driver causes a serious car accident in New Mexico, they (or their parents) can be held responsible.
The Dangers of Inexperienced Drivers
Driver inexperience is a significant factor involved in New Mexico car accidents. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention states that the risk of automobile accidents is the highest among drivers ages 16 to 19 compared to all other age groups.
Driver inexperience creates many serious crash risks, including:
- Lack of familiarity with roads and vehicle controls
- Inability to safely control the vehicle
- Low awareness of surroundings
- Failure to recognize dangerous situations
- Slow reflexes and reaction times
- Failure to know or obey New Mexico’s traffic laws
- Poor decision-making
- Becoming easily distracted by passengers
- Succumbing to peer pressure
- Cell phone use behind the wheel
- Difficulty navigating dark roads
- Speeding or reckless driving
- Higher likelihood of driving under the influence
Certain driver behaviors, such as having multiple passengers in the car, driving while intoxicated, driving at night or on weekends, being distracted by a cell phone, and failing to wear a seat belt can all increase teen driver accident and injury risks.
Teen Drivers and Texting and Driving
One of the most common mistakes inexperienced drivers make is texting while driving. Texting and other cell phone use is the primary type of driver distraction and a very common teen driver behavior.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), when moving at a speed of 55 miles per hour, sending or reading a single text is the equivalent of driving the length of a football field while blindfolded.
Young, inexperienced drivers are less likely to recognize the dangers of texting while driving. They can be overconfident in their driving abilities and underestimate the enormous potential cell phones have for causing injuries and deaths on the road.
Who Is Liable When a Teen Driver Causes an Accident?
The NHTSA reports that 2,320 people were killed in car accidents involving teen drivers nationwide in 2024. In most cases, when a teen driver is responsible for an accident, his or her parents or legal guardians are vicariously liable (legally responsible for the crash).
Unless the minor has his or her own separate car insurance policy, the parents’ policy will provide coverage for all victims injured in the accident. In New Mexico, when a parent signs a minor’s driver’s license application, the parent accepts financial responsibility for any car accidents the teen may cause.
If an inexperienced driver should not have been behind the wheel because of a lack of a driver’s license, a learner’s permit, a history of reckless driving, being underage or other issues, the parents may be sued directly for “negligent entrustment of a vehicle.” This could result in compensation for victims outside of insurance limits.
Compensation Available for a Teen Driver Accident in New Mexico
An inexperienced teen driver can cause a catastrophic automobile accident. A young driver may cause a T-bone accident at a New Mexico intersection, for example, by running a red light. Other examples are serious rear-end collisions, high-speed accidents, head-on collisions and multi-vehicle accidents.
The consequences of an inexperienced driver accident can be significant. Victims may suffer life-changing injuries, such as traumatic brain injuries and spinal cord damage. The financial impact can take a major toll on the victim’s life and future. The teen driver or his or her parents could be held liable for past and future medical bills, property damage, lost wages, pain and suffering, and more.
What to Do After an Accident With an Inexperienced Driver
If you get injured in a car accident involving a young or unlicensed driver in New Mexico, try to remain calm and take the right steps to protect your health and start building your insurance claim. The following actions are recommended:
- Call 911 to report the car accident to local police. Getting a police report can provide you with important evidence against the inexperienced driver.
- Get immediate medical care for your injuries. Move to safety and wait for paramedics to arrive or go to the nearest hospital without delay.
- Obtain the insurance and contact information of the inexperienced driver. If they don’t have a license or car insurance, tell this to the police.
- Take pictures and videos to document the accident scene. Write down eyewitness information, as well.
- Let your car insurance company know you’ve been in an accident. Then, file a claim for damages with the insurance company of the at-fault driver (or their parents).
It’s important to remember that an insurance company is not on your side. Even if you know the inexperienced driver caused your crash, their insurance provider may try to diminish your settlement or reject your claim. Consult with a personal injury lawyer about the value of your case before finalizing anything with an insurer.
What Is the Statute of Limitations on a New Mexico Car Accident Claim?
If you wait too long to file a lawsuit for an inexperienced driver accident in New Mexico, you risk missing your statute of limitations and losing the right to file. You must file by the deadline, which is generally three years from the date of the crash for a personal injury claim and four years for property damage. These are the time limits on lawsuits only; car insurance claims should be filed as soon as possible.
When to Contact a New Mexico Car Accident Lawyer
If you or a loved one gets injured by a young or inexperienced driver in New Mexico, reach out to a local injury attorney in Albuquerque or throughout New Mexico to discuss your legal rights and recovery options. A lawyer can help you prove that the teen driver was negligent or failed to adhere to traffic laws, and/or that the parents were negligent in entrusting the minor with the car. Meanwhile, you can have the peace of mind to focus on healing.
The Fine Law Firm has represented car accident victims in New Mexico for over 50 years. We pride ourselves on building personal relationships with our clients and obtaining optimal results with tailored legal strategies. Our lawyers have recovered millions of dollars in settlements and verdicts for the seriously injured. If you wish to discuss your inexperienced driver accident case at no charge, call us at (505) 889-3463 today to schedule a free consultation.