Legal Question in Insurance Law in Pennsylvania

Re: Child's liability re: auto insurance

You're talkign about vicarious liability, that is, being sued for someone else's negligence.

Parents are not automatically liable for their kids actions, as a general matter, even when minors. There are some exceptions, like negligent supervision -- i.e., if you host a beer party for high schoolers.

In auto cases, in Pennsylvania, a car owner is not liable if they loan their car to someone who then has an accident, UNLESS:

1. Negligent entrustment -- say, lending the car to someone who is unfit to drive.

2. Agency -- you ask your son to pick up your dry cleaning: if he's your agent, they you might be responsbile.

(NOTE: other states have a "dangerous instrumentality" theory where a car owner is liable for its driver's negligence automatically).

BUt as a practical matter, since he has insurance, there's very little chance of any risk even in these scenarios.