Alcohol consumption is a major risk factor for traffic accidents that involve fatalities or severe injuries or fatalities, and so is lack of driving experience. About a third of fatal motor vehicle accidents involve a driver who was drunk or under the influence of drugs. Lack of driving experience is another major risk factor. The youngest drivers make up only a small percentage of the drivers on the road, but they also have an elevated risk of severe accidents. Suffice it to say that if you live to celebrate the fifth anniversary of getting your driver’s license, you and everyone who cares about you can breathe a sigh of relief.
The dangers that await underage drinkers are well known, but most of them do not involve driving. We have all heard the horrible stories about assaults, accidental falls, alcohol poisoning, and other mishaps that can occur when young people gather to drink vast quantities of alcohol. Driving drunk when you are below the legal drinking age is a deadly combination; if you are fortunate enough to survive and escape severe injury, you can still face severe legal consequences.
If you were injured by an underage drunk driver or anyone else whose negligence caused your injuries, you have the right to sue for damages or seek compensation through an insurance claim. If you suffered injuries in a car accident caused by an underage drunk driver, contact a Santa Fe car accident lawyer.
Getting Justice When the At-Fault Driver is a Minor Who Could Face Adult Criminal Penalties
A devastating accident happened on Southfork Road in Santa Fe County on March 7, 2026. A 16-year-old who had recently gotten his driver’s license was going for a wild ride with his 15-year-old friend. Near the intersection with N.M. 14, the driver tried to navigate a curve, but he was unsuccessful, as he was going 100 miles per hour. The driver lost control of the car, and it overturned. The passenger was not wearing a seatbelt, so he was ejected. The passenger was pronounced dead at the scene of the accident, but the driver’s injuries were not life-threatening.
The driver is facing criminal charges for vehicular homicide and for possession of open containers of alcoholic beverages in the vehicle. Given his age and the severity of the charges, it is possible that the state will prosecute the case in adult criminal court, even though the usual practice is to adjudicate cases involving 16-year-old defendants in juvenile court, where a verdict against the defendant does not give him or her a permanent criminal record and where periods of detention cannot exceed a few years. Regardless of the outcome of the criminal case, the victim’s parents have the right to file a wrongful death lawsuit against the parents of the teen driver, under the law of vicarious negligence.
Contact Slate Stern About Car Accident Lawsuits
Slate Stern is a personal injury lawyer who represents plaintiffs injured in car accidents in New Mexico. Contact Slate Stern in Santa Fe, New Mexico, or call (505)814-1517 to discuss your case.
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