Teenage drivers are brand new to driving, and are therefore at a high risk of causing car accidents. In 2023, there were 5,588 deaths involving young drivers (15 to 20 years old) in the United States. If a teen driver is at fault for causing a motor vehicle collision in Texas, find out if and when the teenager’s parents may be held financially responsible. Make sure to contact a car accident lawyer in San Antonio for legal guidance.
Texas Car Insurance Rules and Requirements
In the State of Texas, proof of financial responsibility is a legal requirement for all motor vehicle drivers. Most motorists choose to show this proof in the form of automobile insurance policies. If chosen, drivers must carry at least $30,000 per person and $60,000 per accident in bodily injury liability insurance, as well as $25,000 in property damage liability coverage.
When a car accident takes place, the state uses an “at-fault” system to determine liability, or who is responsible for paying for the crash. This means the person who causes the crash must pay and the victim is required to prove fault using evidence to qualify for financial damages. However, if the at-fault driver is a teenager, his or her parent(s) may be held liable, instead.
Texas’s Graduated Driver Licensing Program
In an attempt to reduce the number of crashes caused by young drivers, Texas uses a Graduated Driver Licensing (GDL) program. This program requires drivers under the age of 18 to obtain learner’s permits for at least six months, then to graduate to provisional (restricted) licenses until they turn 18. This program allows young drivers to progressively gain experience before obtaining standard driver’s licenses.
Whose Insurance Pays for a Teenage Driver Accident in Texas?
Automobile insurance policies are attached to the car, not the driver. This means that as long as a driver has the policyholder’s permission to operate the car, he or she will typically be covered in the event of an accident. If a teen driver causes a car crash, this rule can place liability on the teen’s parents. However, the teenager may pay directly if he or she owns the car and has his or her own insurance policy.
If a teen driver borrowed the parent’s car without permission, on the other hand, this could make it difficult for an injured victim to qualify for coverage from the parents’ insurance company. The insurer may hold that it is not responsible for the crash since the teen was not an approved or covered driver on the policy.
Parental Liability for Teen Driver Accidents in Texas
Even if a traditional insurance claim is not an option after a teen driver accident, it may be possible for a victim to hold the teenager’s parents vicariously liable. Under the rule of parental liability in Texas, parents and legal guardians can be held liable for injuries or property damage caused by a child’s negligent conduct.
When parents allow a teenager to obtain his or her permit, provisional license or driver’s license, they accept responsibility for the actions of the teen while driving. If the teen driver behaves negligently (e.g., speeding, breaking traffic rules or driving under the influence) and this is reasonably attributable to a negligent failure of the parent, the parent can be held liable.
Finally, Texas’s negligent entrustment law may apply to a car accident case involving a teen driver. This law could hold a parent liable for a car crash if the parent knowingly entrusted the vehicle to a teenage driver who was known to be unlicensed, incompetent or a reckless driver, and if the teen negligently caused the accident. Discuss your particular teenage driver accident with a knowledgeable personal injury attorney in San Antonio for more information about your legal rights and options.