Found Article

When I was looking up information about your accident, I came across an injury lawyer who used your story as an advertisement for his services. It was still respectful and sensitive. Here it is:

Saline, Michigan Teen Dies in Driving Mistake-September 8, 2015 by David Christensen

He was headed to the pool to coach water polo when his car crossed the center line and he hit a truck head-on. One day later, the teen from Saline, Michigan, had died-a harrowing reminder that anyone can make a driving mistake.

Hayden Smith, a 17-year-old Saline High School graduate, is being remembered for his love of film, friends, and water polo. His death has shaken his community in Saline, Michigan, and left family, friends, and police looking for answers.

Just after 7:30 on the morning of Thursday, August 20, 2015, Hayden Smith was driving to a pool in Ann Arbor from his home in Saline to teach kids how to play water polo for the Wolverine club team. No one knows why, but his car crossed the center line and ran head-first into an oncoming truck. Police are still investigating the cause, but his mother (that's me!) told M-Live:

"I'm sure it was a mistake...He was a safe driver even though he was young."

"He would never want to hurt someone else or hurt himself."

The police don't think drugs or alcohol was involved. Hayden also seemed committed to not driving distracted. Which means the accident was most likely a mistake-the kind of driver error that can happen to anyone, but is particularly common among younger drivers.

Sometimes, when accidents happen, there is no clear reason why a car goes off the road or over a center line. Maybe the driver was momentarily distracted by the radio or a sign. Maybe he or she over-corrected to miss a pothole, pedestrian, or dog. For inexperienced drivers, these kind of sudden adjustments can lead to tragic consequences. Their lack of knowledge can lead to the vehicle getting out of control. They may also over-react to small threats and cause bigger danger for themselves and other drivers in the process. Newer drivers should be encouraged to limit distractions, including passengers, the radio, and of course cell phones, to make sure everyone gets to where they are going safely.

Regardless of the cause of the accident, the families of motorists who die in car crashed can rest a little easier knowing that their loved one's final expenses will be paid for. Even when, like Hayden, the deceased is at fault for the accident, Michigan's no-fault auto insurance law makes sure that all of his or her medical expenses are covered. In Hayden's case, that could include the helicopter lift to the hospital, his treatment while he was there, and funeral and burial expenses. Had Hayden not been at fault, his (family) could also seek compensation for their loss and his suffering.

Grieving families shouldn't face the auto insurance companies alone...

(I don't think people realized how close you were to 18, since 17 sounds like you only had been driving for a year. It was almost 2 years)