Teen Drivers: What Parents Need to Know About Liability for the 2023 School Year

Getting a driver’s license and finally getting behind the wheel of a vehicle is one of the most exciting events in a teenager’s life. For many teens, this milestone represents freedom and self-reliance. For their parents, it can inspire a new level of anxiety.

This anxiety is well-founded. In the US, teen drivers make up only about four percent of all drivers on the road, according to the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Yet the rate of deaths for teen drivers is nearly three times higher than the rate for older drivers – and the youngest teens suffer the highest risk of all. 

In 2022, South Carolina saw 80 deaths among teenage drivers, a rate of 32 deaths per 100,000 teens in the state. This number places South Carolina in the top ten states with the highest teen driver fatality rates. 

When you have a teen driver, you likely have plenty of concerns about your child’s safety on the road. Beyond their physical well-being, you may also have questions about the financial repercussions of an accident. Could you be held liable for damage caused by your teen driver? 

The short answer is yes. According to Section 56-1-110 of the South Carolina Code of Laws, once a parent or guardian signs their teenager’s application for a beginner’s permit, instruction permit, or driver’s license, they become “jointly and severally liable for the motor vehicle negligence of the minor, unless there is a policy of insurance in place which provides required coverage.”

Your insurance will cover some of the damage caused by your teen son or daughter. In South Carolina, each driver must carry at least $25,000 per person and $50,000 per accident insurance coverage for bodily injury. Drivers must also have at least $25,000 in coverage for property damage per accident. Finally, the state requires uninsured motorist coverage in amounts equal to or higher than the minimum liability coverage. Auto insurers must offer you underinsured motorist coverage as well, but you are not required to purchase it. 

Auto insurance steps in to cover injury costs and certain other losses after a crash. However, should the amount of damages exceed the amount provided by liability coverage, you could be sued. Your teen could also face liability.

Teens are notorious for their enthusiasm behind the wheel, but they are also extremely vulnerable as new drivers. In their first 18 months of driving, teens are four times as likely as an adult to be in an accident. Common causes of teen auto accidents include inexperience, speeding, distracted driving, and intoxication.

The experienced attorneys of Steinberg Law Firm are prepared to help your family in the event of a car accident involving your teenager. To learn how we can help you, call 843-720-2800, or contact us through our online form. We represent injured clients throughout South Carolina with offices in Charleston, Goose Creek, and Summerville.