Nowadays, it seems that even adults do not want to take responsibility for their actions. People live with their parents until they are well into their 30s and people will blame the fact that they are unemployed on psychological conditions that were once considered a normal part of life.
Despite this, teenagers can still get behind the wheel of a car when they are 15 and they can drive by themselves when they are as young as 16.
The state of Florida believes that if a person is old enough to drive, they are old enough to take responsibility for anything that happens on the road. Hence, you can sue a teenager for negligence if they cause an accident.
The teenager would be represented by a parent or guardian in court, but the lawsuit would be against the teen. Judgments against a teen will appear on their credit report.
Driving a car is not the only area of life in which a child is considered responsible for their actions in The Sunshine State. Children over the age of six can be sued for negligence in other situations.
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A No-Fault State
When it comes to car accidents, Florida is a no-fault state, which means that a driver’s own insurance will pay for accident-related medical bills no matter who is at fault. If a driver causes damage to another driver’s vehicle, the person who caused the accident must pay for repairs to the car.
Florida drivers must carry a minimum of $10,000 worth of personal injury protection insurance. If a person’s injuries are very severe and were caused by the negligence of another driver, the injured person may be able to sue the driver who caused the accident.
If your vehicle was damaged due to another person’s negligence, and they do not have insurance, you may be able to sue the driver.
According to lawyers at Fasig | Brooks, although you can legally sue a child for negligence, there are a few exceptions to the rule and it is often more practical to sue an adult.
The Teen is Not the Owner
Florida allows people as young as 16 to be the registered owner of a vehicle. In some cases, a teen may buy a car outright with their own money and then register it in their own name.
In many cases, a child will receive a used car from their parents when they turn 16. The car will remain registered to their parents or guardians. If the parent bought or financed the car for their child, the car will generally be registered in the parent’s name.
When a teenager has an accident and someone else’s car, the car owner is held responsible for the accident. The owner’s insurance will pay for any medical bills that the teen or any of their passengers incur.
If a person was severely injured by a teenager’s negligence, the owner of the car they were driving may be sued for things like extensive care and pain and suffering.
Are Teens More Likely to Have an Accident?
New drivers in general are more likely to have an accident. New drivers tend to be in their teens. Drivers who are between the ages of 16 and 19 are more likely to get into an accident than any other drivers on the road. Teenage boys are In the greatest risk group.
The Teenager Is Still Driving on a Learner’s License
When a teenager in Florida gets their learner’s license, their parent or guardian must sign a consent form. A consent form must be signed before a permanent driver’s license is issued. The parental consent form is considered official until the child is 18.
Therefore, an attorney may argue that the parent is financially responsible for the child and must pay any judgments against them.
If you have been injured in an accident, you should contact a personal injury attorney. They will make sure that you get a fair amount of money from your insurance company. If you have been severely injured due to the negligence of a teenage driver, they can assist you with a lawsuit.
