Can the parents of an adult child be sued for the child’s wreck if they are not on the car loan or insurance policy?
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Can the parents of an adult child be sued for the child’s wreck if they are not on the car loan or insurance policy?
Asked on April 24, 2014 under Accident Law, Oklahoma
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 10 years ago | Contributor
If the child was a legal adult and is also legally competent, then the parents could only be sued if--
1) They are owners or part owners of the car (e.g. it's titled to them as well);
2) They in some way caused or contributed to the car accident (such as serving the adult child alchohol at their home before he or she drove; or if one of the parents tried to fix the car and failed, leaving it in a dangerous condition; etc.).
Merely being parents does not, without more, make you liable.
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