Are Parents Liable for Adult Children’s Car Accidents in New York?

Many states, including New York, have parental responsibility laws that hold parents accountable for some actions of their children. For example, parents in New York might pay the price if their kids are arrested for vandalism or property theft.

Parents in New York might also land in legal trouble if their kids are involved in car accidents. They may leave themselves susceptible to legal action by tossing their car keys to their teenage children.

But are parents liable for adult children’s car accidents in New York, too? You may never have considered the potential connection between parental liability and car accidents involving adult children. You may also find it surprising to hear what New York car accident laws have to say about this.

Learn more about the possible New York parental responsibility in cases involving adult children and car accidents below.

When Parents May Be Liable for Their Adult Children’s Car Accidents in New York

Believe it or not, the answer to the question, “Are parents liable for adult children’s car accidents in New York?” is sometimes “yes.” Many parents are under the impression that their adult children will need to fend for themselves if they’re ever in car accidents and face lawsuits following them, but this isn’t always the case.

Let’s say you’re a parent who routinely allows your adult child to borrow a car registered to you. You might assume your adult child would bear responsibility for any negligence exhibited while behind the wheel of it. However, NY’s Vehicle and Traffic Law Section 388 dictates otherwise.

This law was created to hold vehicle owners accountable for what takes place in their cars, trucks, and SUVs. So, if you let your adult child borrow your vehicle, you might receive the blame for any car collisions they’re involved in, even if you weren’t in the vehicle at the time.

How Parents Can Avoid Being Liable for Their Adult Children’s Car Accidents in NY

If you’re a parent thinking about letting an adult child borrow your car, consider the legal implications before doing so. Understand that the liability for adult children driving could be passed on to you through no direct fault of your own.

Unfortunately, many parents fail to realize that an adult child’s accident responsibility could fall squarely on their shoulders. With this in mind, you should avoid allowing your adult child to drive your car outside of emergencies.

If you don’t want to do this, the least you can do is invest in the appropriate car insurance policy. It should cover you and your adult child and prevent you from being held liable in car accident lawsuits.

What Parents Should Do If They’re Liable for Their Adult Children’s New York Car Accidents

If you’re ever held liable for a car accident involving your adult child, you might not know what to do next. Enlist the services of a car accident lawyer who knows the ins and outs of these types of car crash cases.

A car accident attorney might help minimize the legal consequences you can face following a car accident your adult child was in. They can also explain New York’s parental responsibility laws in greater detail.

Reach Out to a Car Accident Attorney From Our Law Firm for Assistance

If you are still trying to answer the question, “Are parents liable for adult children’s car accidents in New York?” the car accident lawyers from Cantor, Wolff, Nicastro & Hall LLC can help. Fill out this form or contact us at 716-848-8000 to schedule a consultation.