For many teenagers in Litchfield and throughout Connecticut, getting behind the wheel is an exciting and much-anticipated part of growing older. While experiencing the thrills of learning to drive and gaining more independence can be a joyful experience for teenagers, the fact is that inexperienced drivers pose additional risks for motorists and pedestrians. 

Teenagers between the ages of 16 and 19 years old have a higher risk of car accidents than any other age group. In fact, drivers in this age group are involved in fatal crashes at a rate that is almost three times higher than older drivers. 

Inexperience combined with irresponsibility creates a dangerous situation for newly licensed teen drivers and the other people they share the road with. If you’ve been injured in a teen driving accident in Litchfield, contact the experienced car crash attorneys at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, to discuss the possibility of filing an accident claim.

Connecticut’s Teen Driving Laws

Even once they are licensed, teenage drivers are still gaining experience and learning to master the rules of the road. To keep the roads as safe as possible, Connecticut has implemented several laws targeted at the state’s youngest drivers. 

When learning to drive with a learner’s permit, teenagers are required to have an instructor in the vehicle with them who is 20 years old or older. This instructor must also have been driving for at least four years. During this time, when the teenager holds a learner’s permit, they cannot have any passengers in the vehicle except for their instructor, parent, or guardian.

Once they are fully licensed, there are still additional rules that apply to drivers between the ages of 16 and 18. These laws include the following:

  • Drivers aged 16 and 17 cannot drive between the hours of 11:00 pm and 5:00 am unless for work, school, medical emergency, or religious activities.
  • Drivers under the age of 18 cannot use cell phones or hands-free accessories while driving. 
  • For the second six months of having their license, drivers aged 16 and 17 can only have passengers who are immediate family members or driving instructors. 

Even though these safeguards have been put into place, accidents involving teenage drivers are still prevalent in Litchfield and throughout Connecticut. If you are among the many people injured each year by teen drivers, you deserve the opportunity to recover compensation for your damages. 

Recovering Damages After a Teen Driving Wreck

Most teenage drivers are trying their best to obey the rules of the road and learn how to operate their vehicles safely, but that doesn’t mean you should not try to recover financial compensation for your injuries after a teen driving crash in Litchfield.

In Connecticut, you may be able to receive economic and non-economic damages for the following:

  • Medical bills, both present and future
  • Property damage
  • Lost income
  • Loss of earning capacity
  • Pain and suffering
  • Transportation costs
  • Medical devices and assistive equipment
  • Physical therapy 
  • Loss of enjoyment of life
  • Mental anguish

Enlist the Help of an Attorney After a Teen Driving Crash in Litchfield

The seasoned team of lawyers at D’Amico & Pettinicchi, LLC, have a combined 100+ years of experience fighting for fair compensation for those injured in car crashes, including teen driving accidents in Litchfield. If you are looking for legal representation with extensive experience and in-depth knowledge of state laws, local procedures, and successful strategies that produce results, contact us to schedule a free consultation.