Car accident question

[Anonymous]

DW was in a car accident in which she t-boned another vehicle while driving 35 mph. The other driver blew through a red light. This has been confirmed by the police via independent witnesses on scene. DW suffered a minor concussion and bruising from the air bag but she and our 5 year old are fine, thank God. Both vehicles were totaled.

It turns out that the other driver, the person who caused the accident, only has a learner's permit. His father was driving in a car behind him. We learned this when the police officer called after we returned from the hospital. The officer stated that he had ticketed the other driver for driving without a license.

This does not seem sufficient to me. What are your thoughts/recommendations?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DW was in a car accident in which she t-boned another vehicle while driving 35 mph. The other driver blew through a red light. This has been confirmed by the police via independent witnesses on scene. DW suffered a minor concussion and bruising from the air bag but she and our 5 year old are fine, thank God. Both vehicles were totaled.

It turns out that the other driver, the person who caused the accident, only has a learner's permit. His father was driving in a car behind him. We learned this when the police officer called after we returned from the hospital. The officer stated that he had ticketed the other driver for driving without a license.

This does not seem sufficient to me. What are your thoughts/recommendations?

What more do you want someone to do?

[Anonymous]

The ticket will be more than enough to delay him from getting his real license. He’ll need to go to court. His insurance will be astronomical for the next decade.

He’s not going to do jail time (nor should he). Accidents happen.

You might want to teach your wife to pause and look both ways before hitting the gas when the light changes. Lots of people run lights. That’s what my dad taught me when I started driving.

[Anonymous]

Seems appropriate. Did you want to sue? Consult lawyer to discuss chances of sinking more money and time than you’ll ever get back.

[Anonymous]

Wow, really scary for the learning driver.

Not sure what you want the criminal justice system to do to the kid. If it were 10 years from now and your kid what would make sense in your mind?

[Anonymous]

Sue the parents. Unacceptable and he could have killed someone. Call a lawyer.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:The ticket will be more than enough to delay him from getting his real license. He’ll need to go to court. His insurance will be astronomical for the next decade.

He’s not going to do jail time (nor should he). Accidents happen.

You might want to teach your wife to pause and look both ways before hitting the gas when the light changes. Lots of people run lights. That’s what my dad taught me when I started driving.

Juvenile offense. Sealed records. So I don't expect this to follow the driver for a decade.

https://www.butlerlivengood.com/juvenile-law/seal-no-seal-qa-discussion-juvenile-records-virginia/

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ticket will be more than enough to delay him from getting his real license. He’ll need to go to court. His insurance will be astronomical for the next decade.

He’s not going to do jail time (nor should he). Accidents happen.

You might want to teach your wife to pause and look both ways before hitting the gas when the light changes. Lots of people run lights. That’s what my dad taught me when I started driving.

Juvenile offense. Sealed records. So I don't expect this to follow the driver for a decade.

https://www.butlerlivengood.com/juvenile-law/seal-no-seal-qa-discussion-juvenile-records-virginia/

Has it even been established that the other driver was a juvenile?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ticket will be more than enough to delay him from getting his real license. He’ll need to go to court. His insurance will be astronomical for the next decade.

He’s not going to do jail time (nor should he). Accidents happen.

You might want to teach your wife to pause and look both ways before hitting the gas when the light changes. Lots of people run lights. That’s what my dad taught me when I started driving.

Juvenile offense. Sealed records. So I don't expect this to follow the driver for a decade.

https://www.butlerlivengood.com/juvenile-law/seal-no-seal-qa-discussion-juvenile-records-virginia/

Kid is on his parents’ insurance and presumably will be through college (perhaps longer). Insurance will know about the accident. His driving record won’t be sealed. He won’t be able to get his real license now for a while. Since he injured someone, the judge will take this more seriously.

Signed,

Lawyer

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Wow, really scary for the learning driver.

Not sure what you want the criminal justice system to do to the kid. If it were 10 years from now and your kid what would make sense in your mind?

Yes, it is scary when you RUN A RED LIGHT and hit a FAMILY.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, really scary for the learning driver.

Not sure what you want the criminal justice system to do to the kid. If it were 10 years from now and your kid what would make sense in your mind?

Yes, it is scary when you RUN A RED LIGHT and hit a FAMILY.

Good reminder that you shouldn’t hit the gas when the light turns green until you’ve looked both ways to make sure nobody ran the light. That’s just common sense.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Wow, really scary for the learning driver.

Not sure what you want the criminal justice system to do to the kid. If it were 10 years from now and your kid what would make sense in your mind?

Yes, it is scary when you RUN A RED LIGHT and hit a FAMILY.

Good reminder that you shouldn’t hit the gas when the light turns green until you’ve looked both ways to make sure nobody ran the light. That’s just common sense.

True but that doesn’t sound like what happened here. OP says wife was going 35 MPH and that isn’t likely if she was just pulling out on a green light.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DW was in a car accident in which she t-boned another vehicle while driving 35 mph. The other driver blew through a red light. This has been confirmed by the police via independent witnesses on scene. DW suffered a minor concussion and bruising from the air bag but she and our 5 year old are fine, thank God. Both vehicles were totaled.

It turns out that the other driver, the person who caused the accident, only has a learner's permit. His father was driving in a car behind him. We learned this when the police officer called after we returned from the hospital. The officer stated that he had ticketed the other driver for driving without a license.

This does not seem sufficient to me. What are your thoughts/recommendations?

What more do you want someone to do?

Kid should have also been charged with running a red light, which is a significant fine.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:The ticket will be more than enough to delay him from getting his real license. He’ll need to go to court. His insurance will be astronomical for the next decade.

He’s not going to do jail time (nor should he). Accidents happen.

You might want to teach your wife to pause and look both ways before hitting the gas when the light changes. Lots of people run lights. That’s what my dad taught me when I started driving.

Juvenile offense. Sealed records. So I don't expect this to follow the driver for a decade.

https://www.butlerlivengood.com/juvenile-law/seal-no-seal-qa-discussion-juvenile-records-virginia/

That’s not how insurance works.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:DW was in a car accident in which she t-boned another vehicle while driving 35 mph. The other driver blew through a red light. This has been confirmed by the police via independent witnesses on scene. DW suffered a minor concussion and bruising from the air bag but she and our 5 year old are fine, thank God. Both vehicles were totaled.

It turns out that the other driver, the person who caused the accident, only has a learner's permit. His father was driving in a car behind him. We learned this when the police officer called after we returned from the hospital. The officer stated that he had ticketed the other driver for driving without a license.

This does not seem sufficient to me. What are your thoughts/recommendations?

What more do you want someone to do?

Kid should have also been charged with running a red light, which is a significant fine.

Driving without a license is far worse—particularly for a kid with just a learners. That kid will be paying for this for years. So will the parents.