Eight Year-Old Takes Family Van to Get Gas
Any parent will tell you that it’s nearly impossible to keep an eye on your child at all times. Unfortunately, diverting your attention from a child for just a few minutes can lead to the child or others being placed in a dangerous situation. Such situations can also give rise to personal injury liability on behalf of the parents of the child.
A perfect illustration of this principle comes from Bethel, Ohio, where an eight-year old boy decided to do his parents a favor and take their minivan on a quick jaunt down to the gas station to fill it up with gas. The boy reportedly found the car keys in his mother’s purse and tried to drive it to the gas station. Shortly after backing out of the driveway, the boy lost control of the car and crashed into a telephone pole. Luckily, he was not injured.
Situations like this present themselves frequently in the personal injury context. Whether it is a parent or guardian allowing an adolescent to serve as a designated driver or a child simply sneaking out of the house in order to take the family minivan on a joyride, the adult who is responsible for watching over the child can find himself defending a lawsuit if the child under his care causes an accident that injures or even kills another driver or damages someone’s property. Persons who are not licensed, including children who are too young to obtain a license, are presumed to be unfit to operate a motor vehicle except in special circumstances (such as having a license permit). Allowing such a person to operate a motor vehicle or failing to prevent them from doing so can lead to a personal injury suit if that person drives unsafely and causes harm to another person. Victims of such negligent actions should seek an experienced East Tennessee personal injury attorney who can assist them in recovering for their losses.
Source: http://news.findlaw.com/ap/other/features/1120/04-05-2010/20100405070509_30.html
