A woman went viral on TikTok after sharing her thought process behind not pursuing legal action against a teen who scraped her car during an accident.

Edi (@edi.tings) said she was out of town for work and driving a rental when she stopped at Chick-fil-A for food. While sitting in the car, she suddenly felt it move.

“All of a sudden, the car starts shaking,” Edi said. She added that it also made an odd noise.

Next to her was a teenage girl—later revealed to be just 16—who had scraped Edi’s rental while pulling up in a Jeep. Thankfully, no one was hurt, and the damage seemed to be limited to Edi’s car.

Still, she said she wasn’t sure how to handle the situation. The teen had been driving alone with just a learner’s permit and no adult in the car.

Edi said she began to consider her options. She didn’t want to overreact, but she also didn’t know what consequences the teen might face. “I don’t know the repercussions for her driving by herself,” she said.

What Happened at Chick-fil-A?

Edi had backed into a parking spot when the teen tried pulling into the one beside her. That’s when the accident happened. “I couldn’t do anything but laugh,” Edi said.

The girl, however, was clearly shaken. Edi described her as fidgety and on the verge of tears.

While Edi called the police to file a report, the teen phoned her dad. When law enforcement arrived, Edi said the father was helpful at first, telling her “accidents happen,” but then lied to officers, claiming he’d been in the car with his daughter at the time of the crash.

Edi said she kept quiet after what she heard.

She says that in the following days, she started receiving calls from anonymous numbers asking if she was injured and urging her to sue. Edi, however, said she decided against it.

“She’s only 16 years old,” she said. As of Wednesday, Edi’s video explaining her predicament with the teen had amassed more than 267,600 views.

Can Teenagers With a Permit Drive Without an Adult?

Driving alone with only a learner’s permit is a serious violation in most places, and it can come with steep consequences. After all, a permit isn’t a full license. It’s a conditional pass to get behind the wheel, and only with a licensed adult in the car.

If you’re caught driving solo, you can be hit with fines, depending on the state, or be charged with driving without a license. What’s worse, your permit can be suspended or revoked, and your path to getting a full license could be delayed by months or even years.

The specifics vary by state, and consequences tend to get harsher with repeat offenses. Regardless of the legal fallout, though, the bigger issue is safety. A learner’s permit exists so new drivers can gain experience with supervision. Driving alone skips that step—and puts everyone on the road at risk.

Should She Sue?

Whether to sue depends on the details of the accident and what you’re hoping to get out of it.

In Edi’s case, she made it clear she didn’t want to take legal action. No one was hurt, and she didn’t see the point in potentially wrecking a teenager’s life over a minor crash.

Even if you’re not injured, though, you can still have legal grounds to file a claim. You might be entitled to compensation for property damage—like repairs to your car—or other costs, including rental fees or even lost wages if the accident kept you from working.

Viewers Encourage the Affected Driver to Reconsider

Many viewers encouraged Edi to think twice about letting the incident slide, especially after the girl’s father lied to the responding officer.

“SUE cuz she would’ve sued you,” one woman said.

“I would sue just because he lied for her,” another added.

“If roles were reversed, they wouldn’t hesitate,” a third person wrote. “But if you don’t want free money.”

Some argued that suing wouldn’t necessarily punish the teen. If she were on her parents’ insurance, any legal action would likely be directed at the insurance company, not the girl herself.

“You’d be suing their insurance, not them,” one commenter pointed out. “They’ll think twice about letting their kid drive a huge car by themselves next time.”

“SUE. IDC. SUE,” another wrote. “You are suing the insurance, not her specifically.”

“You’re not actually suing her,” a third said. “The lawyer would be getting you money from the insurance company, not her. She should have (at minimum) liability insurance, and that’s what will cover her from the suit.”

Still, in a follow-up video, Edi made it clear she was standing by her choice.

“I’m not going to sue her,” she said. “I pretty much told everyone I didn’t get hurt … I’m on record saying I’m good.”

Motor1 has reached out to Edi via a TikTok direct message.

 
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