• 27
  • July
    2011

Maybe your teen is asking if they can take the car for a summer road trip with friends. Before giving them an answer, you may be considering the cost, wear on the car and whether your teen is mature enough to handle such a responsibility. Another issue you should think about, however, is your potential liability if they get into a car accident.

Recently we published an article on this subject of Colorado's family car doctrine. This blog will provide an overview of some of the main points parents of teen drivers should know.

Colorado is among about half the states that follow a rule called the "family car doctrine". Essentially the family car doctrine makes the owner of a vehicle liable for any damage caused while it is being driven by a family member with the owner's permission.

Specifically in Colorado, four elements are required for liability under the family car doctrine. The liable party (usually a parent) must be the head of the household, have control of the vehicle, the driver needs to be a member of the household, and express or implied permission to use the vehicle must have been given.

Teen drivers are held to the same legal driving standards as more experienced drivers. Their inexperience, however, may make them more likely to get into motor vehicle accidents causing not only risks to their personal safety, but also risks for their parents' financial liability. In order for parents to protect themselves financially from liability for their children's car accidents they should make sure they have ample auto insurance coverage, with both liability and uninsured/underinsured motorist coverage.

Of course the circumstances of every accident are different. If you experienced injuries from an accident with a teen driver, or are the parent of a teen driver who caused an accident, contact a knowledgeable Colorado personal injury attorney to discuss your rights and options.