Injured in a Crash Caused by a Teen Driver in California?

If you were injured in a crash caused by a teenage driver, you may be dealing with more than one insurance policy, more than one legally responsible person, and questions about whether a parent or guardian can be held financially responsible.

At Johnson Attorneys Group, we represent people injured in motor vehicle accidents throughout California. From our Newport Beach and Bakersfield offices, we help injured drivers, passengers, pedestrians, bicyclists, and families understand their options after serious crashes involving teen drivers.

Call Johnson Attorneys Group at 1 (800) 208-3538 for a free consultation. We serve clients throughout the state of California.

Why Teen Driver Accident Claims Can Be Different

A crash involving a teen driver is still a personal injury case, but the liability analysis can be different from a typical adult-driver claim.

In many cases, we investigate:

Whether the teen driver was negligent
Whether the teen had a provisional license
Whether the teen violated California passenger or nighttime driving restrictions
Whether a parent or guardian signed the teen’s driver’s license application
Whether the vehicle owner may be responsible
Whether the teen was driving a family vehicle
Which insurance policies may apply
Whether the injuries exceed the available policy limits

Teen-driver cases often require careful investigation because the person who caused the crash may be under 18, may have limited personal assets, and may be insured under a parent’s or household policy.

California’s Provisional License Rules for Drivers Under 18

California treats drivers under 18 as provisional drivers. According to the California DMV, during the first 12 months after receiving a provisional license, a minor generally may not drive between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. and may not drive with passengers under 20 unless accompanied by a parent, guardian, California-licensed driver age 25 or older, or licensed/certified driving instructor. The DMV lists limited exceptions for medical, school, and work-related needs.

Those rules matter after a crash because they may help show whether the teen was driving in a way California already recognizes as higher risk.

Common Causes of Teen Driver Crashes

Teen drivers may cause crashes for many of the same reasons as adults, but inexperience can make dangerous choices worse. NHTSA identifies immaturity and inexperience as primary factors in teen crashes and points to risks such as nighttime driving, alcohol, distraction, passengers, and electronic devices.

In our review of a teen-driver accident claim, we may look for evidence of:

Speeding
Distracted driving
Texting or phone use
Driving with too many young passengers
Driving late at night
Unsafe lane changes
Following too closely
Driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs
Failure to yield
Running a red light or stop sign
Unsafe turns
Fatigue

NHTSA reported that in 2024, 2,320 people were killed in crashes involving a teen driver age 15 to 18, and that traffic crashes are a leading cause of death for teens in that age group.

Can a Parent Be Responsible for a Teen Driver’s Crash in California?

Yes, in some cases.

California Vehicle Code section 17707 states that civil liability of a minor arising from driving during minority is imposed on the person who signed and verified the minor’s license application, and that person is jointly and severally liable with the minor for damages proximately resulting from the minor’s negligent or wrongful driving.

In plain English, if a parent or another qualifying adult signed the teen’s license application, that person may be financially responsible for damages caused by the teen’s negligent driving.

This issue is important because an injured person’s claim may involve:

The teen driver
The parent or guardian who signed the license application
The owner of the vehicle
The insurance policy covering the vehicle
A household auto policy
Additional coverage, depending on the facts

Every case depends on the documents, insurance policies, family relationship, vehicle ownership, and how the crash happened.

What If the Teen Driver Was Violating License Restrictions?

A violation of California’s provisional license restrictions does not automatically decide the entire injury claim, but it can be important evidence.

For example, if a teen was driving during restricted nighttime hours or carrying passengers under 20 without a qualifying adult in the vehicle, we would want to know:

Whether an exception applied
Whether the violation contributed to the crash
Whether passengers distracted the driver
Whether the teen was driving for school, work, medical, or another permitted reason
Whether the parent knew or allowed the trip
Whether the police report documents the restriction issue

These facts can affect how liability is argued with insurance companies and, when necessary, in litigation.

Who Pays for Injuries After a Teen Driver Accident?

Most claims begin with available insurance. California drivers must carry proof of financial responsibility. The California DMV currently lists minimum liability insurance requirements of:

$30,000 for injury or death to one person
$60,000 for injury or death to more than one person
$15,000 for property damage

The DMV also states that parents or guardians take on financial responsibility for drivers younger than 18 and pay for damages if the driver is involved in a collision.

Depending on the case, compensation may come from:

The teen driver’s auto insurance
A parent’s or guardian’s auto insurance
The vehicle owner’s policy
An umbrella policy
Your own uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage
Another negligent party’s insurance, if more than one person contributed to the crash

Minimum insurance may not be enough in a serious injury case. That is why we look beyond the first policy listed and investigate every available source of recovery.

What Compensation Can You Recover?

If a teen driver’s negligence caused your injuries, your claim may include economic and non-economic damages.

Economic damages may include:

Emergency medical care
Hospital bills
Surgery
Physical therapy
Medication
Future medical treatment
Lost income
Loss of future earning capacity
Vehicle repair or replacement
Out-of-pocket expenses

Non-economic damages may include:

Pain and suffering
Emotional distress
Loss of enjoyment of life
Physical limitations
Disfigurement or scarring
The impact of permanent injury

In a fatal crash, surviving family members may have a wrongful death claim. The available damages and eligible claimants depend on California law and the family relationship.

How Long Do You Have to File a Claim?

California Courts state that the common deadline for a personal injury lawsuit is usually 2 years from the date of injury, and that property damage claims commonly have a 3-year deadline. The courts also warn that deadlines may be different when a government agency is involved.

You should not wait to get legal advice. Evidence can disappear quickly, vehicles may be repaired or destroyed, witnesses may become harder to find, and insurance companies may ask for statements before you understand the full extent of your injuries.

What To Do After a Crash Caused by a Teen Driver

After a crash, protect your health and your claim:

Get medical care right away.
Call law enforcement and request a collision report when appropriate.
Take photos of the vehicles, roadway, injuries, traffic signals, skid marks, and debris.
Get the teen driver’s name, license information, insurance information, and vehicle owner information.
Get names and contact information for passengers and witnesses.
Do not assume the teen is the only responsible party.
Do not give a recorded statement to the other insurance company before getting advice.
Keep medical bills, repair estimates, pay records, and all insurance letters.
Contact a California personal injury lawyer if you were seriously injured or liability is disputed.

How Johnson Attorneys Group Handles Teen Driver Accident Cases

When we take a teen-driver accident case, we focus on proving fault, identifying every responsible party, and documenting the full value of the harm caused.

Our work may include:

Reviewing the police collision report
Investigating whether the teen violated provisional license restrictions
Determining who owned the vehicle
Determining who signed the minor’s license application
Reviewing all available insurance coverage
Interviewing witnesses
Preserving photos, video, and vehicle evidence
Working with medical providers to document injuries
Calculating wage loss and future damages
Negotiating with insurance companies
Filing a lawsuit when necessary to protect the claim

Our goal is to give you clear legal guidance while you focus on medical treatment and recovery.

Do You Need a Lawyer After a Teen Driver Accident?

You may want to speak with a lawyer if:

You suffered more than minor injuries
A child, pedestrian, bicyclist, or passenger was injured
The teen driver was uninsured or underinsured
The teen was driving someone else’s vehicle
A parent or guardian may be legally responsible
The crash involved alcohol, drugs, speeding, distraction, or passengers
The insurance company is blaming you
The settlement offer does not cover your losses
A loved one died in the crash

California Courts note that a lawyer can be especially important when the injury is severe or long-term, damages are large, fault is unclear, or several people or businesses may be responsible.

Speak With a California Teen Driver Accident Lawyer

If you were injured by a teen driver, you do not have to sort through insurance, parent liability, medical bills, and legal deadlines alone.

Johnson Attorneys Group represents injured people throughout California, with offices in Newport Beach and Bakersfield.

Call 1 (800) 208-3538 for a free consultation.

Newport Beach:
4000 MacArthur Blvd., Suite 600 East Tower
Newport Beach, CA 92660
(949) 566-8333

Bakersfield:
4900 California Ave., Tower B, 2nd Floor Suite 18
Bakersfield, CA 93309
(661) 246-4466

Disclaimer: No attorney-client relationship is created by reading this page. Legal deadlines and liability depend on the specific facts of your case, so speak with a lawyer about your situation as soon as possible.

Teen Car Accident Attorney