How Parents Are Liable for Their Child’s Injuries on the Road, If Their Child Is a Teen Driver

Most parents don’t realize, or want to believe this, but they can be held liable if their children get injured on their watch. In Illinois, children mean minors younger than 19 years old. Besides injuries, this also includes car accidents caused by said children because of negligence, lack of parental supervision and/or lack of skills.

This can differ from case to case. For example, parents can also be held financially and legally liable if their child is charged with negligent driving while being supervised. The degree of care they should be responsible for can differ from one case to another, according to facts of a case. For instance, if a teen was asked to drive to the store to get groceries or to shop for their clothes, the parents will be charged by police because clothing and feeding the family is the responsibility of parents.

However, if a teenager used the car for his/her own needs and has a driver’s license, the parents will not be held liable. In that case, they are old enough to be charged themselves. Parents who allow their minor children to get behind the wheel without adult supervision will be charged accordingly in the case of an accident and injuries.

In the state of Illinois, teen drivers have to pass through phases to qualify for a driver’s license, which includes the following:

Permit phase – 15-year-old can get an instruction permit via written consent from their parents or legal guardians.

Initial licensing phase – Initial licenses are provided to teen drivers who are 16- or 17-years of age but only those who have fulfilled all the terms needed.

Complete licensing phase – Teen drivers who are 18- to 20-years of age and who have completed the above-mentioned phases can apply for a complete driver’s license.

Like all drivers, teen drivers will break the law if they use their cell phones while driving but not if they are making emergency calls.

If you have been injured because of a negligent driver, whether teenager or older, you deserve compensation under the full extent of the law. This includes holding legal guardians liable for the damages sustained. Rather than facing them yourself, allow the Law Offices of Robert T. Edens to represent you. We offer our legal services in Chicago, Waukegan, Libertyville, Woodstock and Antioch, Illinois and have recovered millions of dollars for our clients.