Teenager Inexperienced Rider Accidents

Teenaged and other inexperienced riders present a grave risk to other users of California’s freeways, roads, and highways. Many youngsters dream of being able to ride a motorcycle on the streets legally.

Others end up getting passenger cars, especially when they don't understand the risks other drivers can present. Either way, getting an M1 or regular traditional car license is a right of passage for many youngsters who want to get a bike.


Because someday it may be the primary form of transport for a person to get to and from work, driving and riding a motor vehicle can be a step towards adulthood. But the transition from novice to expert doesn’t happen overnight. But any given time, numerous unsophisticated, inexperienced motorists on the roads remain an ever-present threat.

Of this number, there are overconfident riders, risk-takers, and daredevils. And sometimes these rebels without a cause place others and themselves in grave danger. They are the cause of hundreds of deaths and catastrophic injuries to riders and others.

College Kids and Conscious Disregard for Others?

Our motorcycle lawyers see many tragedies caused by teen riders. One blatant disregard for others comes with the territory with college-aged kids, partying and driving. Fill a teen with firewater, and many believe they are immortal. In this impaired state, all riders risk having slower reaction times.

Other distractions are the occasional spring break passenger on the back of a bike, wearing her G-string. Depending upon the distraction, a youthful driver could easily collide with a fixed or moving object. And that may create a chain of events leading to death and serious bodily injuries.

Teens must avoid texting, fidgeting with their iPhone, or iTunes, and pay attention while riding sober! At least 100,000 young adults aged 16 to 24, died in rider inexperience accidents from 2003 and 2012. And these figures aren’t expected to see any substantial improvement anytime soon.

Difficulties in Obtaining Counsel.

The frustrating search for a high-caliber motorcycle speeding injury attorney can be frustrating for a teen rider. When a speeding rider gets injured, most lawyers will reject the case outright. Because it isn't a “slam dunk,” these ambulance chasers don't want it. Even those bikers injured by the speeding of another can get potential new cases rejected out of hand.

And this case rejection probably was from the stigma that goes along with simultaneously being a biker and a teen! Even then, you could get stuck with sub-par representation and horrible customer service. Michael P. Ehline, Esq., of Ehline Law Firm, is the rider’s friend.

We have recovered millions of dollars throughout the Golden State for victims of catastrophic traffic collisions just like you. And this firm is run by a lawyer who rides. And this aggressive advocate is someone who doesn’t wholesale reject cases due to some preconceived notion about you or your lifestyle.

Inexperienced Riders are a Major Cause of Motorcycle Accidents.

Like most teens, a large portion of newly or provisionally licensed riders, think they are indestructible, expert drivers. But after their first spill or scary speed-wobbles, most of them get the message that they have a lot to learn. Some of these daredevils will continue taking extreme risks, in order to prove to themselves and others that they are cool, or that they have masculine prowess, indestructible, etc.

We all know that rebellious teens vary in their degrees of recklessness, but most kids do tend to be off the mark when it comes to their perception of their skills. Most learn what is best for them by doing, not from what some “square” or “out of touch” adult tells them.

What many youngsters and novices don’t seem to grasp is that riding a motorcycle on California roadways is an inherently dangerous activity that requires a maximum amount of safety training and rider protection. Some teens are distracted, seeking varying degrees of attention, such as riding with a g-stringed female passenger on the back of the bike.

As old as time immemorial, teens have drank and driven to try and show off to their peers while intoxicated. Teens like to modify their race bikes with loud pipes, and generally like to be loud and obnoxious, when compared to the more mature veteran riders. (spring break comes to mind.)

Teens in passenger cars are not much safer and indeed are one of the main causes of distracted driving accidents in California. Most experienced riders stay away from vehicles filled with teens blaring the iTunes. Most experienced riders know that teens lack the experience of life that a long time rider or driver has achieved through repetition and training.

Texting and Riding Dangers.

Amazingly, teens do tend to text less than adults while driving their motor vehicles. The issue is, when a teen does text and drive, their lack of experience in grasping the external dangers is more pronounced. The risk is as clear as the back of their riding gloves. But it is often too late to avoid a crash when a teen is distracted.

Women, especially teenaged girls, are notorious for applying makeup while driving, possibly trying to light up a hit out of a marijuana pipe, and the list of distracted driving problems goes on and on.

This above behavior is a snapshot of the many causes of teen calamities that change lives on California freeways and highways for the worse. The 2003-2012 statistics prove that out of approximately 100,000 blooming adults, those aged 16 to 24 years old died in cataclysmic motor vehicle wrecks. And as more teens get licensed provisionally and permanently, these numbers will continue to grow.

Most Typical Mistakes Made By Teens on the Road:

Below is a list of the most common types of driver-related calamities common with teen drivers:

  • The failure to maintain a safe following distance for the riding conditions.
  • Riders failing to travel at a safe speed for the appearance of the road.
  • Failure to abide by texting while driving and other distracted driving problem. (fidgeting with the radio, acting like a goofball).
  • Inability to maintain situational awareness of traffic to the left and right of the rider before negotiating left-hand turns.
  • Forgetting to look left and right before entering intersections, four-way stops, etc.
  • Failure to use turn signals when changing lanes and making otherwise unsafe lane changes.
  • Slowing down, or pulling off the road altogether in inclement weather helps. But other conditions make riding inherently risky to life and limb. So pay attention. Is it too hot, too cold, or snowing outside? Is it raining? Or has hail fallen on you?
  • Refusing to pull over to the side of the road for large, fast, lumbering emergency vehicles. (often due to loud pipes, and restrictive helmets a rider can’t hear all that well).
  • Not using the motorcycle braking system properly. (over-reliance on the rear brakes, braking too quickly, etc.).
  • Failure to abide by the posted speeds and traffic regulations, or even understand what they mean. This is where rider training is so important.
  • Refusing to drive safely by drinking and driving or being on drugs.
  • Failure to wear proper gear. Teens often ride barefoot and do other reckless things that are less common with grown-ups.

Teens on Motorcycles Present Serious Risks to Others.

The list could go on. And these are just some general observations. None the less, one can see that teens can present a danger to other riders, and you may have been one of the casualties left in their wake if you ride a motorcycle or even a traditional motor car.

Teen responsibility is also a big deal. Many teens can’t get jobs. So they purchase insurance for the bike so that they can get their M1 license. But then, they let their insurance expire because they cannot pay the premiums or afford an insurance bond. When this happens, they are now driving without insurance, which is a violation of California law. So now what? If a teen with no insurance gets injured or adversely harms another, what is the procedure to get paid? How do these victims get reimbursed for all the money, time, and pain that has become expended?

Many questions arise as follows:

Q: If I am Uninsured & Hurt In a Motorcycle Accident Not My Fault, Can I Collect Compensation?

A: Yes. But uninsured riders don't get general damages, only special damages. So this means you can only collect for calculable, economic losses. In other words, you can only seek money for your past, present, and future lost wages, medical bills, lifetime care, and things of a financial nature. Because the law deems it unjust for you not to have mandatory automotive liability insurance, you can't collect general damages such as for pain and suffering.

Q: How Do I Collect Money From Uninsured or Underinsured Drivers?

A: A mounted rider who can prove contact, and not just evasive action, can generally collect insurance money from their own UM or UIM coverage. Sometimes, they can claim it from a homeowner's insurance policy (H/O). But that coverage only applies in dismounted situations. Examples of when this insurance comes into play would include walking your bike along the shoulder, after running out of gas, and getting run over by another person.

Or you may have been a simple bystander or pedestrian walking on the sidewalk. In those cases, you can claim against your H/O. If you have none of the above policies of insurance to attach, there is always the ability to attempt wage garnishment.

Also, you can try garnering a judgment for money. But you would still need to make efforts to collect on the judgment from the defendant, etc. So it is crucial to understand how important insurance is and how it works.

Inexperienced Riding Presents Serious Risks to Other Bikers (U/M and UIM Insurance).

Knowing the above info about teens and how many of them may not have any coverage, an experienced rider should always purchase UM and UIM insurance without fail. Although this won’t prevent serious injuries, it certainly can help pay for bills. These costs may get covered by med pay, so you can pay back things like taking an ambulance, rescue helicopter, or even funeral expenses in some cases.

Collision Rate for Teens Is Higher than For Adults.

We have all seen that the collision rates for teens are much higher than for veteran riders. Most of all, this means the danger of bodily injury is significantly greater for those sharing the roads with teen motorists. As it stands, all motorcyclists have to be especially careful when they are traversing in and out of the lanes.

But sometimes even cautious veteran riders become tangled up in a crash. Often it will happen with a reckless or inexperienced “rebel without a cause” cyclist.

Although young riders do not exclusively cause deaths on motorcycles, many fatalities are attributable to this. After all, these trademark “fancy-free” personality types that are all too often present in novice motorcyclists. Unfortunately, this is the character trait associated with many catastrophic motorcycle accidents.

What Can Teens Do to Improve the Situation?

First, be humble. Understand that you cannot let hormones and a lust for danger rule your life when others are also at risk of paying for your youthful indiscretions. So how do you ever learn if you can’t ride? How do you get good? The answer, in a nutshell, is: crawl before you walk.

You have already taken the first step by reading this excellent and informative web page. Also, you are already learning to respect your bike and the rules of the road for motorcyclists. Now dig in and read some more. Double down and get more professional training on a closed track.

Closed Track Motorcycle Training Courses Can Help?

Yes, a closed and managed track is the best place to learn the safest way to drop a bike and survive. Plus, you get how to pull a wobbling motorcycle out of a spin, etc. Also, riding courses help show riders how to transition safely from lane to lane, and when lane splitting or lane sharing, etc.

What If You Don't Have a Closed Riding Course?

Most of all, be courteous to other riders and cars. Understand that you are less visible to motorists than they are to you. Also, learning civility and healthy habits will go a long way. So make sure always to check your mirrors. Always use your turn signals, and to yield the right of way. Don’t become distracted by music, iPhones, or iTunes.

Start in a several mile radius and learn the area. And increasingly learn how to take turns, and how to distinguish when you are and are not in a motorist’s blind spot. Therefore, you can hone your riding abilities immensely.

As you become more comfortable, move your riding radius out. Eventually, try negotiating a short spin on the freeway, and between one-mile stretches of on and off-ramps. Developing your riding prowess in this way is an excellent method to build confidence and remain relatively safe.

Playing it Safe - Get a Riding Buddy.

Last, initially, ride at the least congested times. And then as you become more skillful, venture into rush hour traffic. Riding with a veteran and playing follow, the leader remains an invaluable tool. And it makes sense to utilize these techniques when you're older too. Because riding in packs increases visibility to other cars and vehicles, it is among the best ways to stay safe.

Recovering Damages for Negligence.

Teens are famous for taking ill-advised actions. But if they are on the adult playing field, they must act grown up. For example, if riding on freeways, they become held to the standard of a reasonable driver. Sometimes they must drive different speeds for the conditions present. We all must keep others safe.

Failing to abide by traffic rules, blowing through signs, cutting people off, and being a road hog, etc., is intentional conduct and pure disrespect. This is also a deliberate act of driving unsafely and disobeying the rules of the road.

Other dangerous things a novice rider does, could be out of lack of familiarity with the bike. Or it may be due to the traffic conditions. But it could be some other situation that leads to an unavoidable incident.

If it involves an injury to someone else or their property, you're on the hook. Deliberate or not, a traffic violation is still a violation.

Fines, Penalties, and Damages.

Sometimes a rider is punished with a monetary fine, penalty assessments, and other court fees. Other times, a rider could have their license taken away. Sometimes riders die or kill someone else. Meanwhile, serious homicide charges and wrongful death lawsuits become filed. The quagmire of tragedies from rider inexperience can't be underestimated or pushed under the rug.

Parents are Limited in What they Must Pay.

A little-known fact is a limitation of liability of parents for child negligence. And this means that an injured rider may only be able to collect a small amount of money from the parents. So unless a large insurance policy exists, or you bought enough UM or UIM coverage, you're on the hook.

Most Kids have No Assets.

Good luck trying to squeeze money out of a college or high school kid. Veteran riders must always beware of these additional contingencies they face when riding. They would be smart to beef up on their insurance.

Also, it is an excellent idea to have a big life insurance policy if you ride day-to-day. Buy more coverage, even if just for recreation. Make sure to always maintain situational awareness.

Also, travel with calm and collection at all times. Act with politeness towards others. Exercise control over what you can. Most of all, avoid those things you believe you lack power over. In the words of Clint Eastwood, every “Man’s got to know his limitations.”

Avoiding Risks Of Injury to Riders Means Being Vigilant and Thoughtful.

All people sharing the road must recognize that the road is a microcosm of the greater community. Young, middle-aged, and senior citizens all share and travel upon the streets. So before you ride, commit these crucial points to memory.

  • Understanding Your Environment is of paramount importance. A rider needs to be aware of their surroundings. Also, they must provide themselves and OTHERS sufficient reaction. They need to do everything to avoid a collision or fall.
  • Skill helps riders efficiently operate the bike and identify potentially hazardous conditions.
  • Acumen, or the ability to understand and reason, assists in learning and abiding by the traffic regulations with mastery. And they also make them aware of the price they will pay if they fail to exercise responsible riding habits.
  • Exercising Discretion is a sign of maturity. It makes it easier to abide by your social contract. So it helps when you maintain yourself with proper bearing and discipline.

Hiring a Hard Core Professional Legal Rights Defender.

Injured due to the reckless or negligent conduct of a novice rider? When all else fails, contact a tenacious and excellent, experienced motorcyclist injury law firm. At Ehline Law, we are lawyers who ride motorcycles. We stop at nothing to achieve our goal of a settlement or verdict reminiscent of manna from heaven.

We know a hurt rider’s streets are not paved with gold. Also, a victim is usually out of commission, in a coma, or even deceased. So we act in the victim’s stead, as a powerful voice, steering them and their families to money damages.

Call our dedicated professional at (213) 596-9642. Excellent customer service with a proven pro is at your beck and call.