Can a parent be held liable be liable to pay medical expenses for an injury someone received due to an act of their child?
Question Details:
During the summer, I attended a carnival with my kids and 1 of their friends was there as well. The friend ended up in an altercation with a large group of people. My 11-year old daughter was caught in the "crossfire" and when my son tried to help me get to her, he was punched in the face by an man. His nose was broken and he has permanent damage now. After my insurance coverage, there is still about $3,000 in medical bills for the ambulance, emergency visit, CT scans, etc. Is the friend's mother liable to pay anything towards this debt since her daughter is partly responsible?
General rule is that parents are not vicariously for negligent conducts of their children, with a few exceptions. In your case, the battery causing your son's injury was not even the daughter's fault but some other man. I do not see why her mother is liable when she was not even the tortfeasor.
