If you are a parent and are searching for the accident risks your teens might get into during prom and graduation, Bautista Leroy can give you information. Our attorneys have long served communities across Southern Illinois and the greater St. Louis area. Our attorneys are focused on representing clients in medical malpractice, nursing home negligence, personal injury, sexual abuse and assault cases, and railroad crossing litigation. This specialization has allowed us to build strong cases and help injured individuals seek compensation.

Proms and graduations are two of the most anticipated events for teens. However, these celebratory day could quickly turn into a devastating accident. This article will talk about why accident risks increase during these events, what could be the legal consequences and how parents can help their teens be safe.

Why Prom And Graduation Season Increases Accident Risks?

For teenagers, the night of prom and the day of their graduation are fulfilling and fun. After all, they have been doing their best studying to celebrate. However, authorities have seen an increasing reports of traffic accidents. Here are the common reasons:

• Inexperience behind the wheel
• Distracted driving
• Driving under influence/partying
• Multiple teen passengers
• Late night & fatigue
• Celebratory mindset

What Are The Legal Consequences?

When it is found that a teenager behaved negligently while driving a car, they could face these consequences:

• License suspension or revocation
• Criminal charges
• Civil liability

Their parents might also face vicarious liability, especially if the car used is registered under their name or if they have allowed their teens to drive, knowing about their driving behavior problem. The aftermath of an accident can also be emotionally taxing if your teen is the victim of a reckless act during a prom or graduation.

How Parents Can Keep Their Teens Safe Behind The Wheel?

Parents' role in teaching their teens safe driving practices is very important in preventing accidents from happening. Here are the things that you can do to protect your teens and make them responsible drivers with our wihtout an event:

• Discuss realities of distracted and impaired driving
• Set curfews and check-in times
• Offer ride alternatives
• Review passenger limits
• Lead by example

Why Hiring A Personal Injury Attorney Is Beneficial?

After an accident, parents and their teens might face the difficult process of legal process. An attorney who specializes in personal injury law can assist families in protecting the rights of their teens or seek compensation after sustaining injuries. Here's how they can help:

• Investigation and evidence gathering
• Negotiation with insurance companies
• Handling paperwork 
• Meeting deadline
• Representation in court

When Is The Time To Hire An Attorney?

Contact a personal injury attorney as soon as possible for a consultation. Your early action can help them better collect evidence and prevent you from making costly mistakes. You should consider hiring an attorney if:

• Suffering severe injuries
• Resulted in fatalities
• Fault dispute
• Insurance company delays or denies payment
• Other driver was uninsured or underinsured

What Are The Criteria For Finding A Good Attorney?

Hiring an experienced attorney that you can trust can make a huge difference in the outcome of your case. To achieve a favorable result, choose an attorney who meets these criteria:

• Experience in personal injury law
• Impressive track record of successful case outcomes
• Explain each step of the process clearly
• Compassion and professionalism

Why Choose Bautista LeRoy LLC?

The Bautista Leroy Law Firm has a team of attorney who specializes in personal injury law for years. We recognize the traumatizing effects of a car accident during a supposed to be fun day for your teenager. That is why we offer our service to families with compassion and dedication so that the burden of the legal process will not stress them.  Our attorneys have handled cases involving teen drivers and have a track record of consistently achieving meaningful results. We work hard to meet the needs of our clients and understand their full story to build a strong case.

Suggested Action Steps

Here are our suggested steps for parents to protect their teens during prom night and graduation day:

• Discuss safe driving
• Establish clear rules
• Arrange ride alternatives
• Keep emergency contacts 
• Monitor the event details

If an accident occurs:

• Get medical attention
• Report the accident
• Don't talk to insurers alone
• Consult a personal injury attorney

Prom and graduation should be a day full of fun memories as well as proud moments. As a parent, you must be prepared and remind them always about the high risks of accidents during these events to keep them safe. If you need legal guidance and have questions, you can reach out to us by calling 833-381-6589 or sending us an email on our Contact Page. Serving St. Louis and the surrounding areas of Boone County and Benton County.