Legal Question in Insurance Law in Kentucky

Are parents responsible after age 18 for medical and automobile accidents?

Can a parent be held responsible in any way if a child is 18 and the automobile title is in her name and the insurance is in her name,if there should be an accident?

If an 18 year old child is a full time student and is maintained on the parents health insurance, can the parents be held responsible for medical bills the 18 year old accumulates and seeks treatment on her own?


Asked on 8/21/00, 5:10 pm

1 Answer from Attorneys
Steven Murray Steven W. Murray, APC

Re: Are parents responsible after age 18 for medical and automobile accidents?

If Kentucky law makes the student an adult at 18,

there is no liability just because the parent is

a parent. There could be liability under any other

circumstance where one adult would be liable for

the act or omission of another adult.

Same for the medical treatment question: no liability

unless it would exist for any two adults. However,

since the parent has the health policy, any copayment

or deductible may be the parent's responsibility

but it would depend on the policy's language.

You should check with a Kentucky lawyer on the laws

concerning liability for the necessaries of life, and

for emergency services.

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Answered on 9/26/00, 3:50 pm


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