You Can Be Liable For Your Teenager’s Accidents

5 Apr 2023 · 1 min

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In this video, the presenter explains that parents can be financially responsible if their teenage child causes a car accident. Liability typically falls on the parents' insurance policy and is grounded in three legal theories: negligent entrustment (parents knew or should have known the teen was a danger), vicarious liability (state statutes that directly hold parents accountable for a minor's actions), and liability arising from signing the teen’s driver’s license application (as in California and Florida). The speaker advises parents to consider purchasing umbrella liability coverage and promotes a newsletter for further information.

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You can be held financially responsible when your teenager causes an auto accident. Depending on the state you're in, in most every situation, it will be your insurance policy that is looked to. You could be held liable for damages resulting from the accident. Parental liability comes from one of three legal theories. The first is a claim of negligent entrustment. Assume that you knew or should have known that your child presented a danger when operating an automobile. The second type of claim would be one of vicarious liability. Some states have passed laws which specifically hold parents liable for the actions of their minor child. Last, in some states, California, California and Florida are two of them. You assume liability for your child's accidents if they cause harm when you sign their application for a driver's license. If you have a teen driver at home, it would be a good idea to see what umbrella liability coverage would cost. Subscribe to my newsletter on my profile page and you'll learn a lot more of this.