When your kids learn to drive, it can be nerve-racking for everyone involved. As a parent, the last thing you want to hear is that your teenager, a new driver, has been involved in an accident. Whether they caused the crash or were the victim of someone else’s negligent actions, your teen’s life may have been changed in an instant.
In North Dakota, teen drivers may only make up a small percentage of the total number of drivers, but they are involved in nearly 20% of crashes statewide. This is sometimes due to risky behaviors, but it can also happen because of something as simple as inexperience.
At Lowe Law Group, we know what it’s like for families after a teenager gets into a crash. In addition to physical pain from major injuries, there’s also piling medical bills, major changes to your routine, and a mental weight that comes from disruptions to your family’s life and stability.
You shouldn’t have to navigate these changes alone. Hiring a Minot teen driver accident lawyer means that you have someone on your side to handle all of the complexities of a teen accident case. Insurance companies are quick to blame teen drivers for their inexperience, but we put together a solid case that proves exactly what happened, especially if other drivers were responsible. We’re here to provide you with clarity, support, and a path forward when things feel out of control.
Even though people often dismiss teenage drivers as reckless, the truth is that North Dakota’s teenagers aren’t involved in more accidents because of negligent behavior. Rather, these crashes are typically caused by a combination of risk factors, including inexperience and environment. Sometimes, higher-risk behavior patterns can play a role, too.
Young drivers are still learning how to judge things like speed and distance. They haven’t had much experience responding to sudden hazards like unpredictable drivers, inclement weather, or unexpected debris in the road. It takes time to develop the skills necessary to make split-second decisions as a driver, and teenagers simply haven’t had enough time to develop those instincts.
Data from the North Dakota Department of Transportation’s VisionZero program shows that teen crashes are often linked to higher-risk behaviors, including:
Unfortunately, teens are more likely to underestimate danger and overestimate their driving ability. Sometimes, these risky behaviors lead to a crash.
Another major contributor to teen collisions is distracted driving. Estimates show that 6 out of every 10 teen crashes involve some kind of distraction, and the risk increases 44% with just one teen passenger in the car. With multiple passengers, the risk quadruples!
Common distractions include phones, eating and drinking, adjusting display screens, activity in the car, and conversations. Inexperience and distraction make for a dangerous combination.
Anyone who has driven in North Dakota knows that the roads here bring some specific challenges and risks. The state is home to long, rural roads and harsh weather like snow, ice, and wind. Because of the state’s wide stretches of rural landscape, crashes often happen far from immediate medical help.
These conditions make teen driving in North Dakota even riskier than in other states.
North Dakota law also allows younger people to drive than in other states. Residents can get their permit at 14 and their driver’s license at 15.
Most accidents that involve teenagers aren’t caused by a single mistake. Rather, they are the result of a combination of factors, including inexperience, distractions, and challenging driving conditions. When these things come together, the consequences can be serious for everyone involved.
Teen crashes can be life-changing. As teen car accident attorneys in Minot, ND, these are some of the injuries we see most often:
Head and brain injuries often have long-term or even permanent effects. Symptoms may not be obvious right away, but they are still life-changing.
Even though insurance companies may try to downplay these injuries, they can disrupt a teenager’s life for months or years. Sometimes, these injuries can lead to surgical repairs years down the line.
Musculoskeletal injuries common in teen crashes, especially when high speed plays a role.
It’s always important to seek medical care after an accident, and one of the things that medical professionals will look for right away is evidence of internal injuries. Sometimes, thanks to adrenaline and confusion at the accident scene, these injuries can temporarily go unnoticed. Other times, they are so serious that the injured person is immediately incapacitated at the scene.
These injuries must be properly documented in order for compensation to cover these costs.
When a personal injury lawyer in Minot takes your case, they will help you understand how these injuries may affect your case. Compensation settlements and awards are typically based on the severity of injuries and the long-term impact of the collision, so we work with medical experts, specialists, and forensic teams to fully understand your injuries and prove their long-term effects.
Parents and teenagers alike are concerned about liability after an accident. Teenagers, in particular, have a lot of questions, because they usually don’t have much knowledge about what happens when a crash occurs.
In a teen driving crash, liability depends on a number of factors. ND allows multiple parties to share responsibility for a crash, so it is possible that liability can be assigned to multiple individuals. As long as your own share of the responsibility doesn’t exceed 50%, you can file for damages.
Sometimes, the teen driver is liable, if they caused the crash through their negligence or violation of traffic laws. Inexperience is not necessarily the same thing as negligence, though, and a Minot teen auto accident lawyer can help you calculate your share of the responsibility.
If your teenager was the at-fault driver in an accident, the other driver’s insurance company will likely recognize that the teenager doesn’t have any assets. In that case, they will try to find additional responsible parties to increase potential payouts.
If the negligence of a teenager under the age of 18 caused the accident, their parents and/or guardians are legally responsible. More specifically, the person who signed the teen’s application for a driver’s license is liable for damages.
If a negligent teen driver didn’t own the car, then the person who does own it may also be liable. Under the family car doctrine, courts consider who paid for the car, who controls its use, and whether or not the teen had permission to drive it.
No matter who owns the car, the person who gave permission to the teenager may face some share of the liability for any damages they caused through negligence.
There is a major legal shift if the teenage driver is 18 or older. In those cases, they are treated as a legal adult, which means parents aren’t automatically liable. However, the parent or guardian may still share some of the responsibility if they gave the driver permission to use the car.
Being injured in a crash adds stress, pain, and a new financial burden to your life. At Lowe Law Group, we work to recover compensation for our clients that reflects the full scope of what they went through.
There are two primary types of compensation available after a crash: economic and non-economic.
Economic costs are those that can be assigned a straightforward dollar value. Medical bills and lost income are two of the most common types of economic damages we pursue, but we never let any of your costs go uncounted.
These economic costs may include:
Non-economic costs can be harder to quantify, but they are just as important as your financial losses. These non-monetary costs may include:
A third category applies in tragic circumstances where someone in the crash dies as the result of another person’s negligent behavior. This is called a wrongful death lawsuit, and it can cover funeral and burial costs, as well as loss of financial support and companionship.
Importantly, compensation isn’t just about what the accident has cost you so far. It’s also about what it will cost over time. Teen driver accidents can be more complex because multiple insurance policies may apply and liability may involve other parties, including parents, vehicle owners, and other drivers.
When you’re dealing with medical bills, missed work, or changes to your life, it can be overwhelming. Compensation may be worth more than you have been led to believe, which is why it’s always a good idea to work with a Minot teenage driver injury lawyer who can ensure that nothing gets overlooked.
The days, weeks, and months after a crash are hard to imagine if you haven’t been through it before. We know that the legal process can be intimidating, especially if there is any uncertainty about who was at fault.
Our young driver accident attorneys in Minot are here to help. We’ll do everything to support your case, including:
You shouldn’t have to cope with the legal fight and the insurance company pressure on top of recovering or supporting your teenager as they recover. It is important to us that our clients get relief right away, so we take over the legal fight from the minute you hire us.
Safety and medical care come first, full stop. But once that’s handled, parents often realize that they’ve stepped into legal and financial territory they never could have predicted. North Dakota holds parents responsible in many cases for damages their teen causes, simply because they co-signed the minor’s license application.
The decisions made in the first few days after the crash matter more than most parents realize. A casual comment from your teen, a gap in documentation, or an insurance call made too soon can shape how the rest of the case unfolds.
Injuries also have a way of hiding at first. Your teen might walk away from the crash insisting they feel fine, only to develop symptoms days later.
Whether your child was behind the wheel or riding as a passenger, these cases tend to pull in more than one insurance policy and more than one party. Getting clear guidance early protects two things at once: your teen’s recovery and your family’s financial footing.
Yes. If a teenager caused the crash, the injured party can file a claim against them. Since most teens don’t carry their own coverage, these claims usually end up running through a parent’s auto insurance policy, which is often where the actual payout comes from.
Your teen has the same right to compensation as any other injury victim. That can include medical bills, pain and suffering, and costs tied to long-term recovery. Because they’re a minor, you as the parent typically bring the claim on their behalf.
You’re not necessarily out of luck. North Dakota requires every driver to carry uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage, and that coverage can step in to pay for your damages when the other driver’s policy falls short or doesn’t exist.
Usually, yes, assuming your teen is listed on the policy and was driving with permission. Most insurers automatically expect teen drivers in the household to be added to the policy, and accidents involving a family vehicle are typically covered under those terms. The details, listed driver status, permission to drive, policy language, can still affect what actually gets paid.
Possibly. A serious crash can lead to citations, license penalties, or other consequences separate from any civil claim for damages. The insurance and legal process moves on its own track, but it’s worth talking to an attorney about both sides if your teen was at fault.
Between the injuries, the uncertainty, and the insurance company breathing down your neck, a teen driver accident can pile decisions onto your plate faster than you’re ready for. You shouldn’t have to sort through all of it by yourself.
It doesn’t matter whether your teen was the one injured or the one behind the wheel when the crash happened. Lowe Law Group’s Minot personal injury attorneys take the legal work, the insurance back-and-forth, and the overwhelming details off your plate, so you and your family can put your energy into healing.
Our goal stays simple: get you the compensation your situation actually calls for, and help your family move forward.
Contact us today to schedule your free case consultation.
Your priority now is to heal. Ours is to win your case. Here’s our 3-Step Approach:
Let us listen to your story. We’ll provide a free, no pressure case evaluation.
Our team handles everything: the legal process, gathering paperwork, reviewing your medical treatment, and more.
We win your case and maximize your compensation or we don’t get paid, guaranteed.
I was hit on my MOTORCYCLE by a PODS TRUCK in June, yep, you read that right, PODS TRUCK. I was fortunate to walk away, but knew I needed a lawyer for an accident of this magnitude. Now, let me start by saying I don’t trust lawyers, never have. But had to put my differences aside and trust this GROUP of LAWYERS from a different state…
I was hit on my MOTORCYCLE by a PODS TRUCK in June, yep, you read that right, PODS TRUCK. I was fortunate to walk away, but knew I needed a lawyer for an accident of this magnitude. Now, let me start by saying I don’t trust lawyers, never have. But had to put my differences aside and trust this GROUP of LAWYERS from a different state to handle my affairs. RIGHT AWAY, from the beginning, MARISSA REED, WAS A ROCKSTAR!!! Made me feel at ease and answered all of my ridiculous questions like a VETERAN. Now, this has taken almost 9 months to complete, and it was well worth the wait. Marissa Reed took my settlement to a PLACE WHERE ONLY EAGLES SOAR BABY!! I GOT WAAAAY MORE than expected all thanks to the LOWE LAW GROUP AND FIERY MARISSA REED. Thank you Marissa, for ALL YOU DID FOR ME, AND ALL MY STUPID QUESTIONS. I’m alive, have a HEFTY settlement to spend and am more than thankful for these LAWYERS!! MY ATTITUDE HAS CHANGED FOR THE BETTER ON THEM! HELL YA!!
-Christian W.
Washington
I was hit by a trailer that crossed the median while I was driving on the highway which not only destroyed my car, but I have had to deal with a concussion, neck and back pain along with other PTSD issues. Life happens, some events alter your life, and it can be difficult to adjust. Lowe Law Group is the absolute best. If you want someone who’s gonna be in your c…
I was hit by a trailer that crossed the median while I was driving on the highway which not only destroyed my car, but I have had to deal with a concussion, neck and back pain along with other PTSD issues. Life happens, some events alter your life, and it can be difficult to adjust. Lowe Law Group is the absolute best. If you want someone who’s gonna be in your corner and help you out big time. I HIGHLY recommend them. They made it so much easier, and they don’t care just about money. They want you to be able to get the help you need to recover. Specifically, James Brandenburg has been so helpful and relatable. Where other companies have made me feel just like a number, he has made me feel like a friend.
-Maia. C
Idaho
I have been working with Lowe Law Group since May 2023. I was in a terrible head on collision and have been undergoing coming up on 2 years of medical treatment. I have had 3 case managers throughout the 2 years and have been working closely with Cassi these last few months and she has been amazing. She keeps me updated on whats going on with my…
I have been working with Lowe Law Group since May 2023. I was in a terrible head on collision and have been undergoing coming up on 2 years of medical treatment. I have had 3 case managers throughout the 2 years and have been working closely with Cassi these last few months and she has been amazing. She keeps me updated on whats going on with my case and is doing everything in her power to ensure the best outcome. She has come up with ideas my other two case managers had not that will benefit me in the long run! Its so nice to be able to feel taken care of and having a team backing you.
– Hailey B. Washington
I was in my car waiting at a stoplight when I was rear ended hitting my head, giving me whiplash, and a concussion. It also reaggravated other injuries I was making progress on. Cyra at Lowe Law Group was great jumping right into my case. She was professional and did well in keeping me informed of the process and updating me as needed. There were some challe…
I was in my car waiting at a stoplight when I was rear ended hitting my head, giving me whiplash, and a concussion. It also reaggravated other injuries I was making progress on. Cyra at Lowe Law Group was great jumping right into my case. She was professional and did well in keeping me informed of the process and updating me as needed. There were some challenges in dealing with the culpable party but Lowe Law I believe was able to get me the best settlement possible given all the circumstances and would recommend to anyone who has been involved in an accident.
– Nick W. Colorado
I had a wonderful experience with Lowe law group after my accident. They were great and my case manager Cyra was an absolute ANGEL to work with!! Highly recommend.
I cannot say enough, good things about Heather at Lowe Law Group! From the very beginning, she was a beacon of kind…
I cannot say enough, good things about Heather at Lowe Law Group! From the very beginning, she was a beacon of kindness, compassion, and professionalism. She truly cares about her clients, and her empathy shines through in every interaction. Heather made a potentially overwhelming process feel effortless, guiding me with such care and attention to detail that I always felt completely supported and understood. It’s rare to meet somebody who combines such warmth with incredible expertise, but Heather doesn’t flawlessly. She’s truly a gem, and I am beyond grateful for everything she has done!
Giselle was always kind. I love how she always communicated with me through this whole process. If I didn’t understand…
Giselle was always kind. I love how she always communicated with me through this whole process. If I didn’t understand something , She would explained it in terms that I could. I give Giselle and Lowe Law Group a 5 star rating. I highly recommend this Law Group if you are needing one. Thank you to everyone for your time consuming and hard work.😀
After one of the worst things that has happened to my daughter or me, Harmony was able help me work throug…
After one of the worst things that has happened to my daughter or me, Harmony was able help me work through it in every aspect I needed. From the first day we spoke she worked was so kind, honest and she worked hard for us and went above and beyond. Giving me space when I needed it encouraged me to talk when I needed to. She helped me get medical information, check out the boxes of requirements, find a counselor, and More behind-the-scenes I don’t even know about. I NEVER FELT ALONE, it stopped being my battle and it became her’s.This whole process took maybe five months and at the beginning I guessed this would be over one year. I really appreciate her and because of her work! If I ever meet someone who has an unfortunate accident, I will give them the contact information for Lowe Law Group and song their/ Harmony’s praises! THANK YOU HARMONY!
Being in a car accident and dealing with everything from the car damage to the injuries and everything in between is very…
Being in a car accident and dealing with everything from the car damage to the injuries and everything in between is very stressful. I am so grateful for everyone at Lowe Law for helping me every step of the way. Kaitlyn kept me updated on the progress of the case and answered all the questions I had. Jason and Pete are very knowledgeable and explained each step and helped guide me throughout the process. I would highly recommend them to anyone who has been in a car accident.
Thanks to Ethan for his gentle persuasion and persistent efforts.
…
Thanks to Ethan for his gentle persuasion and persistent efforts. I am very grateful to have the burden shifted to the real professionals. I might even be able to ski this winter as I expect to be recovered from this accident by the time Powder Mountain has enough snow.
Thank You Olga Baranova ( I mention you first and foremost due to the fact you were my case manager, and whom I had prima…
Thank You Olga Baranova ( I mention you first and foremost due to the fact you were my case manager, and whom I had primary contact with.) And to all who worked for me, with me, & on my behalf. For the knowledge, expertise & professionalism applied .. I not only applaud you all .. I thank you all. Wishing Blessings Bountiful To All As well as Good Health, Good Fortune Kind Regards Marc Goulet & Family.
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I answered an advertisement for this law group. I had fired the first attorney. So I retained Lowe Law Group, and Maris…
I answered an advertisement for this law group. I had fired the first attorney. So I retained Lowe Law Group, and Marissa Reed was my contact person. She could not help me but pointed me in the right direction. No charge. Thank you Marissa. I very much recommend this Law Group.
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