Is it Eligible to File a Claim if a Minor is at Fault for the Accident?

Across the USA, one of the most exciting things for teenagers who are about to turn 16 is getting a driving license. The driving license brings a sense of freedom and approach to adulthood in teenagers.

Behind the car wheels, teenage drivers can be very dangerous.  As per the NTSHA, nearly 33% of high school students are admitted to texting while driving at some point. Whereas, there are about 12% distracted teenage drivers who are reported in fatal car accidents.

Liability of Teenager’s Parents in Car Accidents

Parents can be responsible for the property destruction caused due to the negligence of their child. This negligence is traced back to the failure of parents of reasonable discipline and control of their child.  Moreover, if the actions of the child were malicious and willful and their age is between 10 and 18 then parents may be held liable too.

There are many other situations where liability falls on parents if a child shows negligence during driving and result in property damage. For instance, it’s negligence on the part of the parents if they know that their teenage child drives recklessly and they allow him/her to drive the family car at night or for a long-distance drive.

Whereas, if parents had a valid reason to consider their child safe and allow them to take their family car long-distance or some friend’s house then there might be fewer chances of a strong liability claim against the parents.

After the accident, the negligent entrustment policy also comes into play. This law states that the owner of the vehicle is liable for the injuries or damages caused due to the negligence of the person whom they handed over the vehicle to drive.

That means the parents of the teenager may be held responsible for the car accident if parents are permitted to drive the car knowingly that the child could be negligent or reckless.

Contact a Licensed Attorney

Car accident cases that involve teenage drivers may be complicated. If you or someone you know has been injured in an accident caused by the negligence of the minor driver then you might be wondering if filing a claim is eligible or not. Call today Riverside Car Accident Lawyer to discuss your case with them.

Parent’s Responsibility

It is suggested by the National Traffic and Safety Administration to show the teenage drivers some driving statistics which is directly related to the teen drivers. There are chances that this may have a sobering effect on them.

Parents are also advised to set penalties for the bad driving habits of their children. For example, if a teenager is ticketed for speeding then experts suggest taking away the driving privileges from them until the child learns to follow the rules of speed limits.

It is also suggested to talk about alcohol and drugs with your teenage child as it helps to discourage driving under influence (DUI). Last but not least, it is a good practice to set a good driving example for your teenage child.

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This post was written by Mark Kennedy