It is the moment your teen has been waiting years for, and the moment you have been dreading. It’s an exciting time in their life, as learning to drive is a passage right into adulthood, but it’s equally scary for parents sending their child out on the McAllen, Texas roads for the first time alone. If you’re nervous about your teen driving, you aren’t alone. The CDC reports that car accidents are the leading cause of death for teenagers in the United States. So what can you do to help your teen stay safe? Check out these tips to help keep your child safe when you’re preparing to hand over your keys.
Set a good example for your teen
Your child mimics just about everything you do, so safe driving starts with you. Don’t do anything while driving that you wouldn’t want your child to do, including texting and driving, ignoring traffic signs, and speeding. Don’t forget to buckle up!
Prepare an emergency kit
If you’ve ever had a car problem, you know how frustrating it can be to open your trunk for supplies and come up empty-handed. Don’t leave your teen stranded without any tools, pack an emergency kit ahead of time. Include a flashlight, first-aid kit, jumper cables, car jack, and a tire iron, just in case.
Give them some driving responsibilities
Sharing driving responsibilities is a great way to let your teen practice their driving skills close to home on familiar roads. Ask them to run errands for you like going to the store or picking up a sibling at school or from a friend’s house. This way they will feel like they are contributing while having an excuse to be behind the wheel, and you will know where they are.
Watch the weather
As we all know, the weather here in the greater Rio Grande Valley can turn in an instant. Inclement weather brings more danger to an inexperienced driver, so keep an eye out for weather conditions before allowing your teen to drive. It is also a good idea to teach them how to drive in rain and snow before the weather arrives. Consider investing in a professional driving school to properly train them how to drive under all conditions.
Talk to them about the dangers of driving
In addition to drinking and driving, distracted driving is a huge danger for teenage drivers. Sit your teen down and explain to them how deadly distracted driving can be, and make sure they understand the consequences they will have to pay for drinking and driving.
Create rules and boundaries
Set up a contract with your teen that outlines your rules and boundaries, and the penalty for breaking them. This can include hours that they are allowed to drive, a passenger limit, and how far they can go from home or the McAllen area.
For more information about keeping your teen safe behind the wheel, visit //www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/teen_drivers/teendrivers_factsheet.html.
CONTACT HERRMAN & HERRMAN IF YOU HAVE BEEN INJURED IN ANY OF THE FOLLOWING TYPES OF ACCIDENTS:
We can help you if you have been harmed by the following:
- Car accidents – Our lawyers have extensive experience handling car accident cases. We will work to identify the party or parties at fault for the crash and build a case to demonstrate persuasively how the parties caused the accident and your injuries. We will seek fair and full compensation through a negotiated settlement or at trial if necessary.
- Truck accidents – Thousands of large commercial trucks travel the roads of Texas every single day. Unfortunately, careless truck drivers and trucking companies disregarding safety put innocent people at risk of serious injuries. If you’ve been injured in a truck accident, let our experienced Texas personal injury lawyers stand up to the trucking companies and insurers on your behalf.
- Motorcycle accidents – Motorcycle riders often suffer grievous injuries in crashes caused by other motorists. Too many motorcycle accidents in Corpus Christi are caused by careless drivers who don’t look for motorcycle riders or violate their right of way. Our personal injury lawyers will work to cut through the bias and stigma against motorcycle riders. Our goal is to seek the financial compensation that you’ll need to recover from a serious motorcycle accident and injuries such as bone fractures, road rash, or traumatic brain injury.
- Product liability – Product manufacturers have a legal obligation to make products that are safe for their intended uses and to warn consumers of any risks that may come with the product. When products have design or manufacturing defects or undisclosed dangers, the product manufacturer may be legally responsible for injuries suffered by consumers. Our attorneys can help you evaluate whether you have a valid product liability claim.
- Brain injury – Brain injuries can leave accident victims with disabilities that leave them unable to work or perform many tasks of daily living. Seeking compensation for a brain injury in an accident often proves incredibly complex. The brain injury survivor may seek compensation for anticipated future medical care and the medical care already provided. Our personal injury lawyers can help you through the difficult recovery process following a brain injury and will fight to make sure you have the resources you need.
- Spinal injury – Spinal cord injuries could cost millions of dollars of care over the course of the victim’s lifetime, especially when those injuries result in partial or complete paralysis, such as paraplegia or quadriplegia. If you or your loved one has suffered a spinal cord injury, you deserve compassionate legal representation. Our attorney can help you determine whether you may be entitled to claim compensation for your injury and expenses related to living with the disability, such as making a home more accessible.
- Wrongful death – If you have lost a loved one due to the negligent or reckless actions of another party, your family deserves to seek accountability and compensation from those at fault for the wrongful death. Our caring and dedicated attorneys can help guide you and your family through this difficult and painful time and seek justice for your loved one.
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