Q: Am I liable if my son, while riding a bike, loses control and hits a standing car in the school parking lot?
My son (9) was riding his bike on the sidewalk beside his school, says he was doing a trick and almost ran over a discarded water bottle, lost control and veered into a car. The car was in the school parking lot, had people in it, and was parked. He showed me the location and the car was not in a marked spot, instead on the edge of the lot near the sidewalk. The bike caused minor damage on the front end of the car. The cars owner wants us to pay for the damage. Am I obligated to pay for this?
A: A Michigan attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for three weeks. Different jurisdictions have their own laws for parental responsibility for children, based on age. The short answer that would apply in virtually all places nationwide is that the vehicle owner could sue. You could look into whether your homeowner policy might cover it. Good luck
Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.
The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.
Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.
