Teen driver faces charges after serious crash

Teen driver faces charges after serious crash

A single car-accident in Illinois on the evening of Sept. 16 resulted in charges of drinking and driving, driving without insurance, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possession and consumption of alcohol for the 16-year-old driver. A 15-year-old girl nearly lost her life in the Springfield crash; she suffered extremely serious injuries when the vehicle flipped. The driver was supposedly speeding at the time the wreck occurred just after 9 p.m. According to authorities, he couldn’t control the vehicle, sped through the intersection, rammed into an electrical pole and flipped the car.

The motorist walked away from the scene of the accident with another teen, a 15-year-old boy. Authorities located the two young people within about 30 minutes and transported them to a medical facility so their injuries could be treated. The other teen, the 15-year-old girl, reportedly had to be extracted from the flipped vehicle and sustained possibly life-threatening injuries. The day after the wreck, she was listed in serious condition.

Although the teen driver responsible for the accident faces criminal charges in juvenile court, he could also be held civilly responsible for the wreck and the subsequent serious injuries to the girl. The driver was allegedly under the influence and acted negligently when he got behind the wheel, drove too fast and drove without insurance.

A personal injury attorney might be able to file a lawsuit in the case. The victim could face numerous expenses in the recovery process, such as hospital bills, possible surgery, rehabilitation, medical devices and prescription medications. In addition, she could need counseling due to the trauma she experienced during the accident. If the attorney can prove civil negligence on the part of the teen driver, he or she may be able to secure a settlement to help the girl’s family pay for the costs of her recovery.

Source: The State Journal-Register, “Springfield teen still in hospital; driver cited for DUI “, September 17, 2013