In Texas and throughout the country, this is the time of the year when accidents involving teen drivers increase significantly. Proms, graduation parties, vacations and the like bring about a greater chance of impaired teen drivers. In addition, car accidents involving distracted driving are rising rapidly among teens as well as in the general populace.
This harsh dynamic was reflected by another tragic mishap that occurred on June 7 in Gillespie County on State Highway 16. An 18-year old male was operating an SUV with three teenage passengers in a northerly direction south of Fredericksburg. The operator allowed the vehicle to cross the roadway and go into the flow of oncoming traffic that was southbound on the highway.
The SUV crashed into a car driven by an 82-year-old woman, who died at the scene along with her 83-year-old husband. An 18-year-old male passenger in the SUV died after being transported to a hospital. The Texas Department of Safety has not given a reason for the driver’s loss of control and is continuing its investigation. The answers may come largely from those surviving the tragedy.
The teen driver of the SUV is liable civilly under Texas law for damages to the estates of the two deceased persons in the other car. He is also liable for the death of his own passenger and for the potential personal injury claim of the two other passengers. It is likely, however, that his liability car insurance will not cover adequately the massive amount of damages created by this accident. When lack of adequate coverage may be a factor, the victims of car accidents or their families must look to the underinsured motorists’ coverage provisions that may exist in their own policies to collect additional funds.
Source: kxan.com, “Three people killed in crash on SH 16 near Fredericksburg“, Calily Bien, June 8, 2017