As a parent, you need to be aware of what can happen if your teen driver gets into an auto accident.
Are you liable? Can you have a personal injury case brought against you? As a personal injury lawyer, I want to let you know that you can and explain how.
Let me start out by saying that generally a parent is not responsible for the negligent acts of their child.
For example if a child throws a banana peel down and somebody slips on it, the parent is not responsible.
Another example is if a child wets down a sidewalk and somebody slips on it, the parent would not be accountable.
However, when it comes to driving there is more responsibility.
There are two ways a parent can be negligent.
It is a little technical, but I will do my best to make it clear.
The first way that you are accountable is if you sign for the child's license.
By signing, you are agreeing to be responsible for their actions while they are driving, even if they get into an auto accident.
The other is if you are the owner of the car.
There is a statute that says if you are an owner of a car and one of your children who is living with you is driving that car with your permission, then you are automatically accountable.
When a teenager is behind the wheel and causes an auto accident, more than just the driver can be responsible.
As a personal injury lawyer, it is my job to make this clear.
I had one case where a girl was driving and caused an accident in which my client was injured.
Because she was driving she was responsible, but so were the girl's mother and father.
Her mother had signed for the license and her father owned the car and had given the girl permission to drive it.
Since the girl, the father and the mother were all accountable, I sued all three on behalf of my client.
As a personal injury lawyer who has had a lot of experience with auto accidents, I want to make sure you are aware of your responsibility.
Parents make sure that you understand the accountability you assume when you sign for your child's license or let them drive a car that you own.
Also, remember that if your child gets into an accident your insurance will go up.
Your child may be able to go to traffic school to help remove some of the points, but you are going to face increased insurance rates.
It is important you talk to your student about the repercussions of them driving your vehicle.