Arizona Supreme Court to Rule on Parental Liability for Car Accidents Involving Children | Legal News | News Ticker

Arizona law generally holds that when a minor is involved in a car accident and it’s his or her fault, it’s possible for anyone who was injured or the family of anyone who was killed in said Arizona car accident to file an Arizona personal injury lawsuit against the parents who own the vehicle. Recently, that law was put to the test when the parents of a teen who took their vehicle without permission and was involved in a serious accident led to a lawsuit filed against the parents. The Arizona Supreme Court has decided to review the case.

Arizona Car Accident Liability

As stated above, parents are generally liable for the damages that are caused by the negligence or recklessness of their children behind the wheel. This is the case because minors cannot generally be sued in civil court, and any insurance coverage that relates to a vehicle in question is handled and paid for by the parents who add their children to their policies. However, the question regarding liability for parents when a child disobeys direct orders not to drive has not apparently been answered.

While no timetable was given regarding a potential ruling, experts seem to feel that the decision made by the appeals court will stand. That decision stated that even without permission, the parents could still be liable. Logically speaking, it would seem that deciding otherwise would only lead to mass confusion and lawsuits against minors who would have no ability to pay and no insurance coverage to deal with the resulting liability.

Arizona Car Accident Lawyers

This issue is one that’s sure to affect many people because teens are the highest risk when it comes to ages of certain drivers. If you or someone you love has been harmed by a teen driver, you need to seek the help of Arizona car accident lawyers who have been holding those responsible for the injuries they have caused accountable for many years. Contact Phillips Law Group today to schedule a free initial consultation.