Representing Boston Teens and Their Families in Car Accidents

During the seven decades Feinberg & Alban PC has been in practice, we have represented the parents of dozens of teens who were injured or killed in traffic crashes. Our lawyers recognize the heartbreak of so senselessly losing a child and advocate for policies that protect teens from traffic risks.

Learn about teen driving license rules in Boston

The licensing system in Massachusetts is designed to provide teens with progressively more responsibility as their driving skills and maturity advance. The process for obtaining a license includes:

• Learner’s permit — At 16 years of age, a teen is allowed to drive while under the supervision of a passenger who is at least 21 years old.
• Junior operator license — A teen may obtain a junior operator’s license upon reaching the age of 16 and six months and completing 30 hours of classroom instruction, 12 hours of behind-the-wheel training, six hours of driving observation and 40 hours of supervised on-road driving. In addition, the teen’s parent must attend a two-hour class.
• Full unrestricted driver’s license — A teen may apply for a full unrestricted driver’s license upon reaching the age of 18 and after having held a restricted junior license for at least 12 months.

Teens who violate the rules face fines and suspension of driving privileges. In addition, both teens and their parents may be held liable for damages in the civil courts.

Be aware of the four riskiest times for teens to drive

As you send your teens onto the road, you want to do all you can to protect them. First, be aware of high-risk times for teens to drive, including:

1. First year of driving — You are probably so accustomed to driving that you don’t think much about it. However, your teen is still on a learning curve during the first 12 months of driving and thus more vulnerable to distracted driving, inaction and obvious mistakes such as changing lanes too quickly.
2. During the 100 deadliest days — Teen accidents spike during the summer months, when kids are out of school and more likely to be on the road. Distracted driving is a factor in many teen accidents during those “100 deadliest days,” from Memorial Day weekend to Labor Day weekend.
3. At night — Darkness adds to the risk of accidents for all drivers, but especially for teens. Rush hour traffic, fatigue, drunk driving and reduced vision at night contribute to the increase in traffic accidents between the hours of 3 p.m. and midnight.
4. During the workweek — Teens are almost as likely to crash during the week as on weekends. Teens are often in a rush to get to and from school and back and forth to their jobs, and they must maneuver through morning and afternoon rush hours with their limited driving experience.

Insist that your teens take precautions any time they are behind the wheel, including wearing a seatbelt, never drinking and driving, never driving if too tired, and eliminating distractions such as texting or interacting with friends. If your teen is in a Boston auto accident, our lawyers can help your teen recover damages.

Retain experienced counsel to represent your teen after a Boston car crash.

Help your teen recover the maximum possible damages after a car accident. Call Boston-based Feinberg & Alban PC at 617-232-5950 or contact our personal injury law firm online to schedule your free consultation.