My son is a brand new driver. He says that it’s safe to listen to music while he drives and that he’s not distracted, but I am concerned. Who is right? What should I advise him to do if he is involved in an Illinois car accident?

You are right to be concerned about distractions if your teenager is a new driver. Distracted driving accidents can be serious, life-changing, and even life-ending crashes. As a parent, you want to do everything that you can to have your child avoid such a crash.

That said, you and your child may both be right about listening to music in the car. Some research indicates that listening to music is not a distraction. However, changing radio stations or playlists can be distracting, because it may cause your child to take his eyes of the road, his hands off the wheel, and his concentration away from driving safely.

Accordingly, it is important to talk to your child about the risks and to set guidelines with your child about how music will be used in the car when he is the driver. It is also important to talk to your child about what to do if an accident occurs.

An accident may or may not be your child’s fault. Either way, it is important for your child to call the police, get immediate medical help, and to call you. Then, if you believe that your child was hurt by someone else’s negligence, you can call an Illinois car accident lawyer at 309-862-4800 or 866-532-4800. We also invite you to download a FREE copy of our book, The Ultimate Guide for Automobile Accident Victims, to learn more about what to do after a crash.