California is notorious for the number of car accidents caused by teenagers who just got their driver’s license. As a parent, it is your responsibility to take care of your child and hand him/her the key when you believe he/she is ready to take the wheel.
However, handing over the key is a serious responsibility. If you believe that your child is not ready, you should not let them “learn” in such a way.
There are many things that you can do that will safely help your child develop their driving skills:
- Let them drive while you are in the vehicle
- Encourage the child to drive safely, without pressure
- Pay for extra driving lessons
You should also be aware of the consequences you will bear if your child ends up in a car accident (if the child is a minor) in your vehicle. Here is everything you need to know about your liability as a parent when you hand over your keys to a minor child.
You Signed For Their License
Before you sign for your teenage child’s license, you need to be aware of a few things:
- Is your child ready to start driving?
- Has your child shown aggressive behavior?
- Is your child prone to consuming drugs or alcohol?
Once you sing for a child’s license to drive your family car, you will be held responsible for any motor vehicle injuries caused by that child. You will be held responsible until:
- Until that child turns 18 or
- Until you withdraw support for the driver’s license
California is known for attaching “strict liability” to every parent who signs for a child’s driver’s license. You can contact the
Car Accident Attorney in San Diego and learn more about parental liability.
You Are The One Responsible
If your teenage child ends up causing a car accident, you will be held responsible, as stated above. You can be charged with:
- Negligent entrustment
- Negligent parenting
The first one involves giving your permission to a child who is prone to using alcohol or other opium or a child who has a history of problems with drug or alcohol abuse. That child should not be allowed to drive without a parent present in the vehicle, as any damage caused by the child will apply the “parental liability”.
The latter is a type of liability that can be imposed on any
personal injury action, involving:
Parents can face this type of liability after their child’s reckless or DUI driving accident.
If you let your minor child take your vehicle, you are fully responsible for whatever happens after. That involves any car accidents that your child gets involved in, as well as any damages to other vehicles or property. For that reason, you should be absolutely sure that your child is ready to drive before handing them over the keys. Once the accident happens, it is already too late.
However, an attorney may help you even after the accident.
Contact the
San Diego Car Accident Attorneys and learn more about how they can help you if your minor child gets involved in a car accident.
