Two Juveniles Arrested after Carjacking and Accident
Two juveniles who are suspected of committing a carjacking and crashing the vehicle have been arrested. At around 5:45 a.m. last Saturday, West Palm Beach Police were alerted to a carjacking at the 4400 block of Broadway in West Palm Beach. According to the reports, the victim’s Hyundai vehicle was stolen at knifepoint by carjackers. Nearly twelve hours later around 5:00 p.m. the stolen vehicle was spotted near Parker Avenue and Southern Boulevard. After a short chase from the police, the car crashed into another vehicle, which then collided into a third vehicle at the same intersection. The carjackers, still unnamed due to their age, sustained minor injuries and were transported to the hospital. They will both be facing criminal charges and civil lawsuits for the damage caused.
Minor and Parental Liability in Car Accidents
When minors between the ages of sixteen and eighteen years old are involved in car accidents, questions of liability can become murky. Florida has specific laws that hold parents responsible for the actions of their children in certain situations. When it comes to driving, a parent may also be held liable if their child causes an accident. Under the law, Florida statutes state that a parent or guardian is responsible if their child causes any injury or property damage through their negligence or willful misconduct while behind the wheel.
This means that the parent and the child can be held monetarily liable for the damage caused by the child if the minor is found at fault for the car accident. The law does not limit what type or the severity of an accident in order to trigger liability, which means that everything from a minor fender bender to a serious accident that causes the loss of life are jointly liable between parent and child.
In addition, parents of a minor child may also be held liable for injuries and damage caused by car accidents through common law. This means that if a parent knew that their child acted recklessly and allowed them to be behind the wheel anyway, the parent could still be held liable for damage even if the statute did not apply to the case.
How a Lawyer Can Help
Dealing with car accidents caused by minors driving can be incredibly complex. You are not only dealing with your own insurance company and that of the minor child behind the wheel, but that child’s parents are now also involved. You need an experienced personal injury attorney who knows how to sort out the confusing rules of liability and parental responsibility laws to ensure that you are receiving full compensation for your claims. A lawyer will be able to negotiate with all parties involved and protect you from insurers trying to find any reason to mitigate your claims. Hiring a car accident lawyer can mean the difference between getting the money you need to recover and suffering without it.
Call or Contact the Office
To learn more about minor liability in car accident cases, call or contact the West Palm Beach auto accident attorneys at the office of Gary Roberts & Associates today.
Resource:
wpbf.com/article/2-juveniles-crash-car-after-police-chase-in-west-palm-beach/27364363
https://www.westpalmbeach-injurylawyers.com/florida-auto-injury-laws-and-consequences/
