Car Accidents: Young Lives Changed

Hamilton, MAOne of the tragic aspects of car accidents is the effect they have on young lives. In the blink of an eye, a young person with a whole life ahead of her can lose her life, often through no fault of her own. Then, it is left to the grieving family to deal with the aftermath and decide what should be done.

In Massachusetts an 18 year old track star was killed in a single vehicle accident on August 10. The BMW he was in was off the road, resting against a tree. The vehicle's other occupant was taken to hospital and treated for his injuries. The deceased had just graduated from high school and was to be a freshman at Dartmouth College in the fall.

Youth tend to be at a high risk for car crashes because of their inexperience behind the wheel and a tendency to engage in risky behavior, such as speeding or drinking and driving. However, in some instances, adults may be liable for a youth's car accident. For example, if a liquor store negligently sold alcohol to a youth, who was then involved in a drunk driving accident, the store may be partially responsible for the accident. Likewise the parent who provides alcohol for a teen may be responsible if that teen is in an accident.

On August 10, a vehicle carrying five teens was involved in an accident when the driver lost control of the car and it rolled over. One of the teens was killed in the accident while another remains in hospital. All of the teens in the vehicle, including the driver, were reportedly under the influence of alcohol at the time of the crash.

In a different car accident, three young adults were killed and another left in critical condition after the car carrying them sped through a DUI checkpoint. The vehicle crashed into a median, hit a concrete barrier and landed on its roof. Police say alcohol may have been a factor in the accident.

When youths are seriously injured or killed in a car accident, it falls to their parents to deal with the aftermath, including paying medical or funereal bills and dealing with the emotional toll. Those who survive their accidents but are severely injured may face a lifetime of health problems and physical difficulties, including traumatic head injuries, back injuries and learning difficulties.

Often parents wind up footing the bill for such things, and incur massive debt as a result. One family, whose son was hit by a drunk driver while he road his bike, say their medical bills are over $100,000 and they have had to pay the bulk of that, with only $20,000 coming from insurance. The boy suffered two skull fractures, a concussion, a collapsed lung and combative seizures in the accident. He is now at least three grades behind where he should be in school because of his traumatic brain injury.

Car accidents can be very traumatic and when the victim is young, the accident can have a severe income on his or her future. It can also have an impact on the youth's future wages and put a financial burden on the victim's family.

If you or someone you love has been involved in a car accident, do not just assume that insurance will take care of all the bills. Contact a lawyer to help ensure you get the compensation you deserve.