Getting What Is Rightfully Yours

Parental Responsibilty Laws: What All Guardians Of Minor Children Should Know

8 September 2015 by Penny Fisher

As a parent to a child, it is important that you are aware of your responsibilities should they injure or cause harm to someone. There are many states that require parents and legal guardians to be at least partially liable should their child commit either a negligent or criminal act. The laws vary from state to state, but they all say that parents are legally responsible to supervise the actions of their child. The following information can be a helpful guide to parental responsibility law:

Parental Responsibility Laws and Minor Children

Parental responsibility laws pertain to minor children whom you have primary responsibility for. Different states view minors in a different ways. Most often, a minor is anyone under the age of eighteen; however, some states view minors as those up to the age of 21.

What Parents Can Be Held Responsible For

The parental responsibility laws are different in each state regarding what parents can be held responsible for. Some states hold parents responsible for any damage caused by their child with absolutely no financial restitution limit. Other states may cap the amount of money the parents will be required to pay for in damages. There are states that only will hold parents liable for willful and malicious acts, such as injuring or killing another person's pet or applying graffiti to someone else's property.

Parental Responsibility and Young Drivers

Some states do apply responsibility laws to young drivers who are still considered minors in their state. The law would require parents to pay for damages or injuries from an accident caused by their child.

There are also states that require minors to have a sponsor to obtain a drivers license. The sponsor has to be an adult who is a parent or legal guardian. If the minor driver causes damage or inflicts injuries on someone while driving, the sponsor is going to be the person held responsible for the costs associated with the accident, whether they own the car the child was driving or not.

Because the laws can vary from state to state, it is important to check out your area's parental responsibly laws. If you have supervision over a minor child who causes damage or injury to someone else, it is important to seek the advice of a knowledgeable attorney who specializes in minors and personal injury law. They are able to provide you with guidance on the laws in your state, what you are responsible for, and what you are not.

To learn more, contact a personal injury lawyer like Richard Glazer Law Office. 

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