Your teen’s first car accident: a guide for teens and parents
A calm phone script and clear next steps for a new driver’s first crash
Many parents hope their teen will never crash. But a first crash is common, and it often comes early. Planning for it is not gloomy thinking. It is good preparation.
This guide gives teens simple steps for the scene. It gives parents a calm phone script. It also covers passengers, the police and the talk you will have afterward.
Why the first months matter
In an IIHS survey of 911 teens, the risk of a first crash was 5.3% in the first month with a license. Over the next 11 months, it averaged 2.5% a month [1]. By our rough math, that suggests about one in four teens reported a first crash within a year.
Crash rates fall as teens gain miles. New drivers crashed most in their first 250 miles, at 3.2 crashes per 10,000 miles. The rate dropped sharply after about 500 miles [2]. A study used cameras in teens’ cars. It found far more crashes and near crashes in the first six months than in the next twelve [3].
Per mile driven, drivers ages 16 to 19 have a fatal crash rate nearly three times that of drivers 20 and older. The risk is highest at ages 16 and 17 [4].
Steps for the teen at the scene
The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Teen Driver Source lists these steps [5]:
- Breathe.
- Check yourself for injuries.
- Check your passengers.
- Get to safety. If the car cannot move, stay buckled.
- Call 911 and give your exact location.
- Wait for help.
- Exchange information with the other driver.
- Take photos and notes.
- Tell your insurance company.
Talk with the police. Give facts about what you saw and did. Do not guess or give opinions about who was at fault.
The phone call: a script for teens and parents
Practice this call before your teen drives alone. A calm script helps when everyone is shaken.
Helping from a distance
- Use phone location sharing to confirm the address for 911 and the tow truck.
- Ask your teen to count the passengers. Write down each name, seat and any complaint.
- Call each passenger’s parent the same day, even if no one seems hurt.
- Offer to speak with the officer by phone. Get the report number and the name of the police agency.
- Note whether the trip broke a learner or provisional license rule, such as limits on passengers or late night driving. A calm promise to talk about it later helps you get the truth now.
Check on every passenger’s health too. Our guide to caring for children and other passengers explains what to watch for.
After the crash: two separate talks
Keep the talks apart. Tonight, focus on safety and feelings. Later in the week, talk about what happened and what to change. Review what your family driving agreement says.
Stress is common after a crash, for teens and for parents. CHOP notes that stress reactions are common after injuries, even when a crash was not serious. They usually ease within a few weeks. Symptoms that last a month or more need attention [6].
Watch for avoiding driving or riding, trouble sleeping, or replaying the crash. AfterTheInjury.org has tips for families [6].
Questions to talk through before your teen drives alone
Question checklist from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
- Who will you call first after a crash, and who next?
- Where are the insurance card and registration kept in the car?
- How do you share your location from your phone?
- What will you say to the other driver, and what will you not say?
- When is it okay to move the car, and when should you stay buckled in?
- What does our family driving agreement say about passengers and night driving?
Frequently asked questions
Should my teen talk to the police after a crash?
Yes. Teens should cooperate and give facts, such as what they saw and did. They should not guess or argue about who was at fault.
Does a first crash mean my teen is not ready to drive?
Not by itself. First crashes are common in the early months [1]. Use it as a chance to review skills and rules. Practice more with your teen and talk about what to change.
When should I worry about my teen’s stress after a crash?
Some worry, poor sleep or fear in the car is common at first. If it lasts a month or more, or gets worse, talk with your teen’s doctor [6].
The bottom line
Recommendation from Safety Behind the Wheel Foundation
A first crash is likely, not rare. Practice the phone script before your teen drives alone, during the first 500 miles when risk is highest. On the day of a crash, focus on safety and calm. Save the talk about what went wrong for later in the week.
Related articles
- The parent playbook for raising a trusted teen driver
- Managing worry when your teenager starts driving
- Teen drivers, college students and cars that move: keeping your auto policy accurate
- Driving or riding again after a serious car crash
- The first 72 hours after a car accident: what to do and when
- What if the other driver refuses to cooperate after an accident?
Sources and further reading
- 1McCartt AT, Shabanova VI, Leaf WA. Driving experience, crashes and traffic citations of teenage beginning drivers. Accident Analysis and Prevention, 2003. Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. iihs.org/…/1679
- 2National Academies. Workshop report on preventing teen motor crashes. NCBI Bookshelf. ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK9672
- 3National Institutes of Health. Naturalistic Teenage Driving Study. PubMed Central. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3088306
- 4Insurance Institute for Highway Safety. Fatality facts: teenagers. iihs.org/…/teenagers
- 5Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Teen Driver Source. Steps to take after a car crash. teendriversource.research.chop.edu/…/steps-to-take-after-a-car-c…
- 6Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. AfterTheInjury.org: help for families after an injury. aftertheinjury.org
This article reflects the safety priorities of teen driver safety and family support. It offers general education, not medical, legal or insurance advice. Laws and policies differ by state, so check official sources where the crash happened. Reviewed November 2026.
Special thanks to our contributors
We appreciate the professionals, experts, and community members who share their knowledge and perspectives to help make this resource better. Your insights are always welcome and appreciated.
Have professional expertise, firsthand experience, or a perspective that could make this resource better?
We welcome your input. Your knowledge and experience can help us make this resource more useful, accurate, and meaningful to the people who rely on it.
Thank you. Your contribution is on its way.
We’re grateful you took the time to share your knowledge with us. Our team reviews every contribution with care. If it helps improve this resource, we’ll update the page and recognize you the way you chose.
Keep learning
Safe Driving Resource Center
Guides, self-checks and articles for drivers, parents of new drivers, and families recovering after a crash.
