When a teenager begins driving in North Dakota, parents may wonder if they can be held responsible if their child causes an accident. Although parents are not automatically liable for their child’s car accidents, certain circumstances can make them responsible for injuries and property damage.
How the law holds parents liable
State law holds that a parent is financially responsible for damage a minor driver causes. These are the main grounds:
- Signing the license application: A parent who signs a minor’s permit or license application shares joint liability if the teen drives negligently. However, proper insurance coverage can sometimes limit this exposure.
- Negligent entrustment: A parent who lets an inexperienced, reckless or impaired teen drive can face a direct lawsuit.
- Family purpose doctrine: Under North Dakota law, courts can hold the head of the household responsible when a family member causes a crash while driving a vehicle the family maintains for general use.
- Employing the teen: A parent who owns a business can face liability if their teen causes a crash while working or running a business errand.
More than one of these legal rules can apply to a single crash. If none of these situations applies, the teen alone typically bears responsibility for the damages.
Protecting a family’s finances
An unresolved claim can put a family’s savings and property at risk. Parents should review their auto insurance to make sure the coverage limits are high enough for a teen driver. A personal injury attorney can review what happened, identify the insurance that applies and guide the family through the claims process.