Teenage drivers account for only 6 percent of Kentucky’s driving population, yet they are involved in about 18 percent of fatal crashes in Kentucky and more than 20 percent of all crashes in the state, according to the Kentucky Office of Highway Safety.
If you were injured in an accident caused by a minor teen driver in Kentucky, do you know who is responsible for an underage driver? Is a parent liable when their child causes a car crash?
This article explores Kentucky law and potential avenues for compensation in car accidents caused by underage teen drivers. Our car accident attorneys at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer are ready to help you seek full and fair compensation if you have been injured in an accident caused by a driver younger than 18.
Who Is Liable for Underage Teen Driver Accidents in Kentucky?
Recovering insurance money through auto liability insurance depends on showing who was at fault for the accident. That becomes an issue when an underage driver causes a car accident because civil law treats children differently from adults. Typically, a parent is held responsible for damages caused by an underage driver.
Kentucky laws specifically address the concept of parental responsibility for losses caused by their underage children. When an underage teen driver applies for a driver’s license, Kentucky requires a parent or guardian to sign the application. By doing so, the adult takes financial responsibility for any negligence by the underage driver, such as negligence leading to a car accident, according to KRS 186.590(1).
Under KRS 186.590(3), Kentucky state law further says that a car owner who allows a minor to drive their vehicle is legally responsible for “damage caused by the negligence of the minor in driving the vehicle.” Under the common law’s family purpose doctrine, vehicle owners are liable for damages family members cause when using their vehicles, regardless of whether they have given them permission to use them.
Another legal doctrine, negligent entrustment, holds that a vehicle owner is liable for damages caused by a driver they allowed to drive the family vehicle if the car owner knew or reasonably should have known the driver was too inexperienced, incompetent, or reckless to drive it safely.
Filing a Claim Against the Underage Driver and Parents or Guardians
Kentucky requires car owners to maintain auto insurance liability coverage of $25,000 for bodily injuries sustained by any one person in a single accident, $50,000 for bodily injuries sustained by all persons in an accident, and $25,000 for all property damage in a single accident. Alternatively, an auto insurance policy with a single limit of $60,000 is acceptable.
It is possible for a teen driver to maintain their own auto liability insurance coverage, but they are typically covered by their parents’ or guardians’ policy. In some cases, you might pursue compensation from other parties involved in the accident, such as another motorist who contributed to the collision.
How Our Lawyers Can Protect Your Rights After an Underage Driver Accident
Insurance companies don’t like to make payouts for car accident injuries. If there is some reason to question their auto liability policyholder’s responsibility for the accident, they will dispute your claim. If they can’t deny liability, it is also typical for an insurance adjuster to devalue your claim and offer a settlement for substantially less money than you deserve.
As your car accident attorneys, Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer will work to seek maximum compensation for you. We will investigate the accident to gather evidence of the at-fault driver’s liability and calculate the full extent of your losses. We will also look for additional sources of compensation for you, such as from other parties who may have contributed to the accident.
Our car accident attorneys have the Kentucky Courage necessary to demand full compensation from all insurance companies obligated to you after a car accident. If any insurer fails to offer a settlement acceptable to you, we will take them to court.
Contact Us Today for a Free Consultation with Our Kentucky Car Accident Lawyers
Underage teen drivers enjoy the benefits of holding a Kentucky driver’s license, but they and their parents also bear responsibility for accidents the minor drivers cause. Don’t count on the insurance company to do the right thing. You need to seek legal representation from the experienced car accident lawyers at Morgan, Collins, Yeast & Salyer for assistance in pursuing compensation for your medical expenses, lost wages, pain, suffering, and other losses.
Contact us today to set up a free consultation with a car accident lawyer who will fight for you.
