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Is Your Teen Driving? A Warrensburg, MO Auto Accident Lawyer Suggests A Teen Driving Contract

Has your teen just received their license? You probably feel proud, but scared. Missouri car accidents are the leading cause of death to teenagers. You may be wondering: How can I help my teen stay safe in the car?

The Warrensburg, MO auto accident lawyers at Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys suggest drawing up a driving contract with your teen. The contract should state rules for using the car and consequences for breaking those rules.

It should include:

1. Which car(s) the teen may drive: Cars driven by teens should have working airbags, a good safety rating, and be easy to maneuver.

2. Car care expectations: Will the teen be responsible for putting gas into the car? Will they need to schedule oil changes, check tire pressure, and take care of regular maintenance?

3. Car cleanliness: Do you expect the teen to keep both the outside and inside of the car clean?

4. Who will pay for insurance? Insurance rates for teens are high. The average teen has three accidents before turning 20 and insurance rates increase with each accident. Having a teen pay part or all of the insurance is a good incentive for avoiding reckless driving behaviors.

5. Rules the teen is expected to follow. These may include:

• Always wearing a seatbelt and requiring passengers to buckle up as well.
  

  Limits on the numbers of passengers. We suggest no driving with friends in the car.

  No cell phone use while driving. You may require your teen to turn off the phone while the key is in the ignition.

  Obeying the speed limit and traffic laws.

  No drinking or drug use. Driving while impaired is one of the leading causes of fatal teen car accidents. Even if you don't think it is a problem, the contract should state that your teen is not allowed to drink and drive, have alcohol in the car, or be a passenger in a car with a driver who has been drinking or using drugs. Let your teenager know that they can call you to come get them if they ever get stranded.

  Your teen should let you know where they are going and when they plan to return. Let your teen know that this is not because you want to track their activities, but to prevent worrying while they are gaining driving experience.

6.Curfews: It is reasonable to set a curfew for your new driver. More accidents happen between 9:00 p.m. and 2:00 A.M. than during the daylight hours. Set a curfew, but let your teen know that it is better to be late, than to speed to meet the curfew. But, they should call to let you know they are on their way before getting in the car.

7.Consequences: The contract should specify what will happen if the rules are broken.

We've written a sample teen driving contract that you can modify to fit your family's needs. Click on the article "Keep Your Teen Driver Safe: A Warrensburg, MO Auto Accident Lawyer's Teen Driving Contract" to see the sample contract.

Teens may become involved in Missouri car crashes even if they practice safe driving habits. If your teen is involved a Missouri car accident, your teen may be blamed just because he or she is a teenager. Make sure your teen's rights are protected; download a free copy of our book "10 Essential Steps You Must Take To Protect Your Injury Claim." If you would like to discuss your child's accident claim, contact Kansas City Accident Injury Attorneys and ask to schedule a free consultation with a Warrensburg, MO auto accident lawyer.

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