Southern Illinois Teen Driver Accident Attorneys
Hurt in a Crash Involving a Teen Driver? We Fight for the Injured.
- 100% Free Case Evaluation & Honest Answers
- We Find Every Source of Coverage, Including a Parent’s Policy
- You Pay Nothing Unless We Win Your Case
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Southern Illinois Teen Driver Accident Lawyers
Teen drivers are the most dangerous drivers on the road, not because of bad intent but because of inexperience. A new driver has not yet built the instincts that let an older driver read a hazard and react in time. When that inexperience meets speed, a phone, a carful of friends, or a dark rural road, the result is too often a serious crash. If a teen driver hurt you, or your own teenager was injured, this page explains how these cases work in Illinois.
The attorneys at Olson & Reeves were born and raised in Southern Illinois, and we handle teen driver crash cases across the region, from Jefferson County and Mt. Vernon to Marion, Carbondale, Centralia, Salem, and the towns and county roads in between. We take these cases on a contingency fee, which means you owe no attorney’s fee unless we recover money for you. The call and the case review are free.
Crashes involving young drivers raise questions that ordinary car wrecks do not, including which insurance applies, whether a parent can be held responsible, and how a claim works when the injured person is a minor. For the full picture of Illinois crash law, see our Southern Illinois car accident attorneys page.
Why Teen Drivers Crash More Often
The risk is not a matter of opinion. According to the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety, the fatal crash rate per mile driven for drivers ages 16 to 19 is nearly three times the rate for drivers 20 and older, and their overall crash rate is about four times higher. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that motor vehicle crashes are one of the leading causes of death for U.S. teens, and risk is highest in the first months after a teen is licensed. The most common factors behind teen crashes are:
- Inexperience. New drivers are slower to recognize and respond to hazards.
- Speeding. Teen drivers speed and follow too closely more often than older drivers.
- Distraction. Phones, music, and passengers pull a young driver’s attention from the road.
- Teen passengers. The IIHS reports that most teen passenger deaths occur in a vehicle driven by another teen, which is why Illinois limits how many young passengers a new driver can carry.
- Nighttime and weekend driving. Crash risk for teens is highest at night and on weekends.
- Lower seatbelt use. Teens buckle up less often, which worsens the injuries when a crash happens.
Illinois Graduated Driver Licensing Rules
Illinois phases in driving privileges for young drivers through its Graduated Driver Licensing program under 625 ILCS 5/6-107. These rules exist because supervised, gradual experience saves lives, and a teen who breaks them is often a teen whose conduct caused a crash. When a young driver violates one of these restrictions before a wreck, that violation can be evidence of negligence. The core rules, detailed by the Illinois Secretary of State, are below.
| Restriction | The Rule |
|---|---|
| Nighttime driving | No driving 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. Sunday through Thursday, or 11 p.m. to 6 a.m. Friday and Saturday |
| Passengers (first 12 months or until age 18) | Only one passenger under age 20, unless the extra passengers are family |
| Cell phones (drivers under 19) | No wireless phone use while driving, even hands-free, except in an emergency |
| Permit and practice | Permit held at least 9 months and 50 hours of practice, including 10 at night, before an initial license |
The cell phone ban for drivers under 19 appears at 625 ILCS 5/12-610.1, and Illinois separately bars all drivers from using a hand-held device under 625 ILCS 5/12-610.2.
Can a Parent Be Held Responsible for a Teen’s Crash?
This is the question we hear most, and the Illinois answer is more limited than many people assume. Illinois does not follow the family purpose doctrine. The Illinois Supreme Court held in Zedella v. Gibson that Illinois has no statute making a parent automatically liable for a child’s negligent driving simply because the parent owns the car or signed for the license. A parent is not on the hook just because it was their teenager behind the wheel.
A parent can still be held responsible in specific situations:
- Negligent entrustment. If a parent lets a teen drive when they knew or should have known the teen was likely to drive dangerously, such as a teen with a record of reckless driving or recent crashes, the parent can be liable for handing over the car.
- Agency or a family errand. If the teen was driving on the parent’s behalf, such as running an errand for the household, the parent may be responsible as the principal.
- The Parental Responsibility Law. Under 740 ILCS 115/3, parents are liable for the willful or malicious acts of a minor, but this does not cover ordinary careless driving, and recovery is capped at $20,000 for a first occurrence under 740 ILCS 115/5.
In practice, the most important point is more reassuring than the legal theories suggest. The family’s auto insurance policy usually covers a teen driver as a member of the household, so even when a parent cannot be held personally liable, that policy is generally the source that pays an injured person’s claim. Identifying the right policy and the full coverage available is often the real work of a teen driver case.
When Your Own Teenager Is the One Who Was Hurt
Not every teen driver case involves a teen who caused the crash. Many involve a young person who was injured as a driver or passenger by someone else’s negligence. When the injured person is a minor, Illinois law treats the claim differently in two important ways.
First, the filing deadline is longer. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-211, the two-year clock generally does not start until the child turns 18, so a minor usually has until two years after their eighteenth birthday to file. Second, a settlement for an injured minor generally must be approved by the court to make sure it is fair and that the money is protected for the child. We handle both of these steps so a young person’s recovery is preserved.
The Illinois Rules That Govern Your Claim
The same core rules that apply to any Illinois car crash apply here. An adult injured person generally has two years from the crash to file. Illinois modified comparative negligence under 735 ILCS 5/2-1116 lets you recover if you were 50% or less at fault, with your compensation reduced by your share, but bars recovery if you were more than 50% at fault. And when a teen driver carries little or no insurance, your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage can step in to make up the difference.
Why Local Representation Matters
Teen driver crashes are filed and tried in the county where they happen, which means the courts of Southern Illinois, places like Jefferson, Marion, Williamson, and the surrounding counties. There is value in working with a firm that practices here, knows the local roads where young drivers crash, and understands how Illinois treats claims involving minors. We were born and raised here, and the people we represent are our neighbors. If injuries make travel hard, we can come to you or set up a free virtual consultation.
Proven Results: Recent Southern Illinois Car Crash Victories
We don’t just talk a big game. We get results, and we are ready to get results for you. Here are some of our recent results for Southern Illinois car accident clients:
- $755,000 Settlement – Our client was injured in a car accident in Fayette County, Illinois.
- $250,000 Policy-Limit Settlement – Our client was in a car accident in St. Clair County. After handling it himself for 18 months, he had a $65,000 offer on the table. After he retained us, we settled within one month for the full $250,000 policy limit.
- Policy-Limit Settlement – Our client was stopped at a stop sign in Mt. Vernon, Illinois, when a distracted driver rear-ended her. She suffered whiplash and a shoulder sprain, and we recovered the maximum available policy limits.
- $45,000 Settlement – Our client was side-swiped on Interstate 57 in Jefferson County, Illinois, when a careless driver changed lanes without checking his mirror.
Past results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Every case is different and must be evaluated on its own facts.
Why Choose Olson & Reeves for Your Teen Driver Case?
- No Fee Unless We Win. We handle these cases on a contingency fee, so you owe no attorney’s fee unless we recover for you. The consultation is free.
- We Find the Coverage. We identify every applicable policy, including a parent’s auto coverage and your own uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage.
- We Know the Rules for Minors. From the longer filing deadline to court approval of a minor’s settlement, we handle the added steps these cases require.
- Local Roots in Southern Illinois. We know the courts and the roads across the region, because this community is ours.
Teen Driver Accident FAQ
Can I sue the parents of a teen driver who hit me in Illinois?
Usually not for ordinary negligence. Illinois does not follow the family purpose doctrine, so parents are not automatically liable just because their teen was driving. A parent can be liable for negligent entrustment, if the teen was on a family errand, or for a child’s willful acts under the Parental Responsibility Law.
In most cases this matters less than it seems, because the family’s auto insurance policy generally covers the teen as a household driver and is the source that pays the claim.
Whose insurance pays when a teen driver causes a crash?
The auto insurance policy covering the vehicle the teen was driving generally pays, and a teen who lives at home is usually covered as a member of the household under a parent’s policy. If that coverage is too low or absent, your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage can apply.
Sorting out which policies apply, and finding all of the available coverage, is often the most important part of a teen driver case.
Does a teen breaking the graduated license rules help my claim?
It can. If a young driver violated a graduated license restriction before the crash, such as driving after curfew, carrying too many teen passengers, or using a phone while under 19, that violation can be evidence of negligence in your injury claim.
These restrictions exist to reduce teen crashes, so breaking one is often part of the story of how a wreck happened. We gather the records that show whether a restriction was violated.
My teenager was injured in a crash. How long do we have to file?
Longer than for an adult. Under 735 ILCS 5/13-211, the two-year deadline generally does not begin until an injured child turns 18, so a minor usually has until two years after their eighteenth birthday to file a personal injury claim.
Even with the longer deadline, it is best to act early. Evidence fades and witnesses move, and an early investigation protects the value of the claim.
Does a settlement for an injured minor need court approval?
Generally, yes. A settlement on behalf of an injured minor in Illinois usually must be approved by the court, which reviews the terms to make sure they are fair and that the funds are protected for the child, often in a restricted account until the child turns 18.
This is a routine but important step. We handle the court approval process so a young person’s recovery is preserved rather than spent prematurely.
What if my teen was hurt while riding with another teen driver?
Your teen may have a claim against the driver who caused the crash, even if that driver is a friend. The claim is generally made against that driver’s insurance, and the friendship does not change your child’s right to recover for their injuries.
Most teen passenger injuries happen in a car driven by another teen, so these situations are common. We handle them with sensitivity to the families involved.
The teen who hit me had no insurance. Can I still recover?
Often, yes. If the teen driver and the vehicle’s owner have no coverage that applies, your own uninsured motorist coverage can step in. If their coverage is too small to cover your injuries, your underinsured motorist coverage can make up part of the gap.
Illinois requires uninsured motorist coverage on auto policies for this reason. We review all of the coverage that may apply to your situation.
What is a teen driver accident case worth?
There is no fixed formula. Value depends on the severity and permanence of the injuries, the medical bills and lost income, how clear the teen’s fault is, and the insurance available. Serious or permanent injuries lead to substantially larger claims.
No honest lawyer can promise a number before reviewing the case. We account for every category of harm, present and future, so the demand reflects the full impact of the injury.
Contact a Southern Illinois Teen Driver Accident Attorney for a Free Case Evaluation
Whether a teen driver hurt you or your own teenager was injured, do not wait while deadlines run and evidence disappears. Call Olson & Reeves for a 100% free case evaluation at (618) 316-7322. You pay nothing unless we win your case. From Mt. Vernon and Centralia, we represent injured people across Southern Illinois, and we can come to you or set up a free virtual consultation. You can also learn more on our car accident, T-bone accident, and head-on collision pages.