It is common to feel mixed emotions the first time your child gets behind the wheel of a car. While this is a frightening and stressful experience, it is also an exciting milestone in your child’s life.
Unfortunately, motor-vehicle accidents are the leading causes of deaths and injuries among 16- to 19-year-olds, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. These five safety tips can minimize your child’s risk of crashing and suffering injuries:
- Enforce basic safety guidelines;
- Purchase a safe vehicle;
- Incentivize safe driving;
- Sign up your child for a defensive-driving course;
- And lead by example.
No matter how responsible your teen is behind the wheel, nobody can control the actions of other drivers. If the worst happens and your child suffers injuries due to a negligent motorist, contact Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC.
A Cedar Rapids accident lawyer will gather evidence, talk to witnesses, structure your claim, and help you fight for the maximum settlement. Call 319-393-1020 to schedule a free consultation. You can also visit http://car-accident.usattorneys.com/iowa/ to learn more about personal-injury lawsuits in Iowa.
Here are five tips that can improve your teen’s safety behind the wheel:
1. Enforce Basic Safety Guidelines
Although some safety guidelines seem like common sense, they won’t become second-nature for your child unless you enforce them. KidsHealth.org recommends that you remind your teen to wear his or her seatbelt, not consume alcohol before driving, never to use his or her cell phone behind the wheel, and to avoid carrying passengers because they can be distracting.
2. Purchase a Safe Vehicle
A safe vehicle can help your child avoid accidents and minimize the risk of injuries or death. Before making the purchase, check the vehicle’s safety ratings from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, as well as its history report. Also, try to find a larger vehicle because they tend to fare better in wrecks than smaller cars.
3. Incentivize Safe Driving
Your child should understand that unsafe driving will have consequences. If he or she gets a traffic citation or engages in other reckless behavior, then remove his or her driving privileges. You can also reward your child for completing a defensive-driving course and avoiding traffic violations.
4. Sign up Your Child for a Defensive-Driving Course
An online or in-person driving course can improve your child’s ability to identify and avoid precarious situations. This could also reduce his or her insurance cost. Click here to learn more about defensive-driving classes in Iowa.
5. Lead by Example
Your child will pick up your good and bad driving habits from an early age. Make sure you buckle up, follow the speed limit, and drive defensively.
If you or your child was injured by a drunk, distracted, or otherwise negligent motorist, contact Eells & Tronvold Law Offices, PLC. A Cedar Rapids accident attorney will assess your case to determine if you have grounds for a claim.
As the victim of another driver’s negligence, you may be entitled to compensation for lost income, health-care bills, and noneconomic damages. Call 319-393-1020 to schedule a free initial consultation.