As the father of three active boys, including two teenagers approaching driving age, I know the day I hand over the car keys isn’t far off. Right now, our days are filled with practices, wrestling meets, school activities, and the constant shuffle of getting everyone where they need to be. Before long, they’ll be the ones behind the wheel, driving themselves to those same activities. Like most parents, I’ll worry about whether they’re paying attention, following the speed limit, putting their phones away, and making smart decisions. But as a personal injury attorney who has spent more than two decades representing families devastated by serious car accidents, I know something else: Even if my boys do everything right, I can’t control the decisions of the other drivers sharing the road with them.
But there’s one conversation most parents overlook before handing over the keys. And it has nothing to do with how their teenager drives. It’s about what happens when someone else causes the crash.
As a personal injury attorney, I’ve seen firsthand how quickly a family’s life can change. I’ve also seen families discover, at the worst possible moment, that the insurance coverage they thought would protect them falls painfully short.
That’s why my first piece of advice to parents of new drivers isn’t about driving lessons or curfews. It’s this: Pull out your auto insurance policy and make sure your family is protected.
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1. Understand uninsured and underinsured motorist coverage
Most parents assume that if another driver causes an accident, that driver’s insurance will cover the damages. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case.
Some drivers have no insurance at all. Others carry only the minimum amount required by their state, which may not come close to covering the cost of a serious injury. That’s where uninsured motorist (UM) and underinsured motorist (UIM) coverage come in.
Uninsured motorist coverage can help protect you when the at-fault driver has no applicable liability insurance. Underinsured motorist coverage can help when the at-fault driver’s coverage isn’t enough to compensate you for your injuries and other covered losses.
Think about a teenager who suffers a traumatic brain injury after being struck by another driver. Medical bills, rehabilitation, lost future earnings, and ongoing care can easily exceed hundreds of thousands of dollars. If the at-fault driver carries only $15,000 or $30,000 in liability coverage, where does the rest come from? Potentially, your own UM/UIM coverage.
Ask your insurance agent one question: “If my child is seriously injured by a driver with little or no insurance, exactly how much protection does our policy provide?” Don’t settle for being told you have “full coverage.” That’s not a specific insurance benefit, and it doesn’t tell you whether your family is adequately protected.
2. Don’t automatically choose the cheapest policy when adding your teen
Adding a teenage driver to your auto policy is expensive. I understand the temptation to offset that increase by reducing other coverage. But lowering your liability limits or declining optional protections to save a few dollars each month can be a costly decision.
Ask your agent to price higher liability and UM/UIM limits, explain whether your policy permits stacking coverage, and show you the actual difference in premiums. You may be surprised by how much additional protection you can purchase relative to the cost.
And don’t assume your teenager is automatically covered just because they’re driving a family vehicle. Make sure they’re properly listed or otherwise covered under the policy and ask how coverage applies when they drive someone else’s car.
3. Establish a passenger policy, not just a driving policy
Parents spend considerable time discussing where their teenagers can drive, but often overlook who can ride with them.
Passengers create distractions, particularly for inexperienced drivers. Establish clear rules about when friends can ride along, how many passengers are permitted, and whether your teenager can drive with other newly licensed drivers.
Know your state’s graduated licensing restrictions. Then consider whether your family’s rules should be stricter.
And have the conversation from the other direction, too: Whose car is your teenager getting into? A teen can be an excellent driver and still be seriously injured as someone else’s passenger.
4. Make sure your teen knows what to do after a crash
We teach teenagers how to avoid accidents, but rarely what to do when one happens. Before your child begins driving independently, walk through the basics. Move to safety when possible, call 911 when appropriate, and never leave the scene. Explain how to exchange insurance information, document the vehicles and surroundings, and identify witnesses without putting themselves in danger.
And this is very important: Teach them not to speculate about fault or make statements about injuries they aren’t qualified to assess. And remind them that some injuries don’t become apparent immediately. If they’re hurt or experiencing symptoms, getting medical attention matters more than getting home on time. Put emergency contacts and insurance information somewhere they can access easily, even if their phone is damaged or lost.
5. Give your teenager permission to make the safe call
One of the most important conversations you can have with a new driver is also one of the simplest. Tell your teenager that if they’re tired, uncomfortable, overwhelmed, or worried about a friend’s driving, they can call you. Any time. No argument about the inconvenience, no immediate lecture about why they got into the situation.
Teenagers will make mistakes. What matters is making sure they know they have a safe way out before a bad decision becomes a tragedy.
Protection starts before the first drive
Every parent hopes their teenager will be a careful, responsible driver. But even the most cautious teen can’t control the decisions of everyone else on the road.
We can’t eliminate every risk that comes with driving. We can, however, prepare our children to make better decisions and take meaningful steps to protect them when someone else doesn’t.
So, before you hand over the keys, schedule the driving lesson, establish the ground rules, and have the difficult conversations. And make one more call: to your insurance agent.
It may be one of the most important things you do to protect your teenager and your family’s financial future.
Michael L. Saile Jr. is a personal injury attorney and founding partner at Cordisco & Saile LLC, where he represents individuals and families in Pennsylvania and New Jersey after catastrophic injuries, including traumatic brain injuries, spinal cord injuries, and wrongful death. He cofounded the firm in 2016 and is part of the Brain Injury Association of America’s Preferred Attorney program. He is the father of three young sons, and his wife, Caterina Saile, is a trial attorney as well.
