Suffering an accident is traumatic enough. Add a minor to the equation, and the impact can be even greater. What can you do if you were injured due to a teenager’s negligent behavior? Can you sue a minor in California? The short answer is yes — you can. However, in most cases, you wouldn’t sue the minor directly, but rather their parents or legal guardians.
If you’d like to claim compensation in these particularly complex situations, you should hire experienced car accident lawyers in California to handle your case. Call Megeredchian Law at (866) 359-0807 to schedule a free consultation. We can evaluate your case within minutes and determine whether you qualify for compensation. If you do, we’ll fight to obtain the maximum compensation possible to cover your medical bills, vehicle repairs or replacement, lost wages, and more.
Can You Sue a Minor in California? Your Options After an Accident
In practice, you typically recover compensation from the parent or guardian who signed the minor’s driver’s license, the vehicle owner who permitted the teen to drive, a parent or owner for negligent entrustment, and any insurance covering the vehicle. Directly suing the minor is allowed, but collection is often limited. Here’s a more detailed breakdown of each situation:
When Are Parents Responsible for a Teen’s Car Accident?
If a minor causes a crash while driving, any civil liability of the minor is imputed to the adult who signed and verified the minor’s driver’s license application. That adult is jointly and severally liable with the minor for damages caused by the teen’s negligent driving. This liability continues until the minor turns 18 or the adult withdraws consent. In most accident cases involving minors, recovery comes through this channel, since minors themselves rarely have substantial assets.
Can You Hold the Car Owner Responsible Too?
Under California law, every vehicle owner is liable for injuries or property damage caused by anyone driving the vehicle with the owner’s express or implied permission. This commonly applies to a parent who owns the car the teen was driving. In practice, this usually triggers the owner’s auto liability insurance coverage.
As of 2025, California’s minimum coverage limits have increased to $30,000 per person, $60,000 per accident for bodily injury, and $15,000 for property damage. These higher limits often make recovery more meaningful for victims of accidents caused by minors.
When Parents Are Negligent for Letting a Teen Drive
If a parent or vehicle owner knew or should have known that the teen was unfit to drive—such as being unlicensed, intoxicated, or having a reckless history—but allowed them to drive anyway, they may be sued for negligent entrustment. This claim is separate from standard liability under the Vehicle Code and has no statutory damage cap. It is a powerful legal avenue for victims when clear parental negligence contributed to the accident.
What if the Minor Took the Car Without Permission?
If a minor caused an accident after taking a vehicle without the owner’s permission, the situation changes significantly. In California, a parent or vehicle owner is not automatically liable if the teen used the car without consent—for example, if the child “borrowed” the vehicle without asking or took it after being told not to drive.
In those cases, the parent may only be held responsible if there is proof of negligence, such as leaving the keys accessible despite knowing the teen might drive without permission. The minor can still be held personally liable for their negligent actions, but any financial recovery would depend on their own assets or other available insurance coverage, which is often limited.
Non-Driving Accidents by Minors (Bike, Scooter, Pedestrian, or Other)
Victims can sue a minor directly for negligence in non-driving accidents, such as bicycle or scooter crashes. However, parents are not automatically liable for a child’s negligence outside of the motor-vehicle context. Parents may only be liable for a child’s willful misconduct—not simple carelessness—and California law caps this type of liability to specific damages, typically limited to medical or hospital expenses. This makes recovery more limited compared with car accident cases.
Should You Sue the Minor or Go After Insurance?
You may include the minor, the signing adult, the vehicle owner, and any negligent-entrustment defendants in the same lawsuit. In most situations, insurance defense counsel will represent the owner or signing adult. While you can technically sue the minor, recovering money directly from them is usually impractical, as minors rarely have significant assets. Most compensation comes from auto or umbrella insurance covering the responsible adult or vehicle.
How to Claim Compensation in an Accident Caused By a Minor
Every accident case involving a minor is unique. Factors such as the teen’s license status, whether they had permission to drive, who owns the car, and how insurance applies can all affect how compensation is obtained.
However, most claims in California follow a general process. Below are the typical steps victims go through—from hiring a lawyer to receiving compensation—though your own path may vary depending on the facts of your case.
Hire a qualified California car accident lawyer
Start by retaining an attorney experienced with minor-caused accidents. They’ll explain who can be held financially responsible (the minor, the parent or guardian who signed the license, the vehicle owner, and/or through negligent entrustment) and outline the best route to access insurance coverage. Most work on contingency, meaning you pay only if they recover money for you.
Preserve evidence immediately
Your lawyer will secure critical proof such as police reports, photos or videos, vehicle damage assessments, witness statements, and ownership or permission records. If “no permission” is claimed, texts, keys, and prior conduct may become key evidence. Acting quickly strengthens your claim.
Identify all liable parties and insurance
The attorney will determine who’s legally responsible—whether the teen, the adult who signed their license, the car’s owner, or both—and locate all relevant insurance policies, including auto, household, umbrella, and even your own uninsured motorist coverage.
Get medical care and document every expense
Continue all recommended treatment and keep complete medical records. These documents support claims for medical costs, lost wages, pain and suffering, and any long-term effects of the crash.
Open claims and send preservation and notice letters
Your lawyer will notify insurers, confirm coverage, and demand that evidence be preserved. This step ensures that no important proof is lost and that each insurance company formally begins its investigation.
Prove liability with a focused investigation
The investigation will focus on the minor’s driving record, permit or license status, household rules, and the owner’s level of supervision. This helps determine if the parent or owner knew—or should have known—that the teen was unfit to drive.
Calculate damages and issue a demand
Once your medical condition stabilizes, your lawyer will calculate total damages, including medical bills, property loss, income loss, and pain and suffering. They’ll then issue a formal demand for compensation supported by all documentation.
Negotiate and leverage multiple coverages
Your attorney negotiates with all involved insurance carriers. If one policy doesn’t cover the full amount, they’ll seek compensation from other applicable policies or your own coverage.
File suit before deadlines and litigate if needed
If the insurer denies liability or offers an unfair amount, your lawyer will file a lawsuit within California’s legal deadlines and continue negotiating during the litigation process.
Settle, resolve liens, and get paid
Once a settlement or verdict is reached, your lawyer resolves all medical liens and insurance claims, ensuring you receive your full share. The case concludes when compensation is paid and the final accounting is complete.
Is Teen Driving a Problem in California?
Unfortunately, it is. High-risk behaviors such as distracted driving, speeding, and impairment remain the main causes of accidents involving underage drivers.
The California Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control also reports that “the likelihood of teen drivers engaging in risky behavior triples when traveling with multiple passengers.” The same report noted that seat belt use continues to be a concern, as “50 percent of teen passenger vehicle drivers who died in 2022 were unbuckled.”
Meanwhile, a recent OTS brief stated that “driver distraction is the primary cause of major injury crashes involving teens.” In fact, California’s 2025 “No-Touch” phone law appears to target this very issue, aiming to reduce distractions among young drivers. According to the AAA, cellphone use is the second-leading distraction for teen drivers—right after having teen passengers in the car.
Real-Life Teen-Related Accidents in California 2025
At Megeredchian Law, our daily accident news section regularly reports on real-life crashes across California — many of which involve teenage drivers. These true stories reveal how often distraction, speeding, or inexperience can lead to devastating outcomes on our roads — whether teens are the ones causing the crash or the victims of it. Below are several teen-related accidents we’ve reported in 2025:
- April 29, 2025 — Riverside County, CA: Teen Crashes Allegedly Stolen Vehicle After Police Pursuit
- May 1, 2025 — Fresno County, CA: Teen Crashes Stolen Vehicle Into Home in Northeast Fresno, Authorities Say
- May 27, 2025 — Los Angeles, CA: 19-Year-Old Yoni Tunche Dieguez Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash
- June 5, 2025 — Los Angeles, CA: One Teen Killed, Others Severely Injured in Private School Parking Lot in Studio City
- June 13, 2025 — Los Angeles, CA: Teenage Pedestrian Killed in Long Beach Bus Stop Accident
- September 24, 2025 — Los Angeles County, CA: Lancaster Teen Killed in Multi-Vehicle Crash Caused by Suspected DUI Driver
- September 30, 2025 — Orange County, CA: Teen Identified as Jagger Boys Dies in Newport Beach E-Bike Crash
- October 29, 2025 — Los Angeles County, CA: Liam May, 17, Killed in San Pedro Crash; Teenage Driver Arrested
- November 6, 2025 — San Diego County, CA: Elderly Man Hospitalized After El Cajon Hit-and-Run; Teen Driver Arrested
- November 10, 2025 — San Bernardino County, CA: Teen on Scooter Dies After Being Struck by Car in Rancho Cucamonga
How Our Car Accident Lawyers in California Can Help You
Whether you were involved in an accident caused by a teen or your child was a victim of one, you may be entitled to compensation. Megeredchian Law has the experience, legal knowledge, and resources to build a strong claim on your behalf.
With our help, your chances of obtaining fair compensation increase significantly. You may recover medical expenses, property damage, and compensation for physical and emotional suffering, among other losses. And if you tragically lost a loved one, our wrongful death attorneys can also help you pursue justice and financial recovery.Call Megeredchian Law at (866) 359-0807 today to schedule your free consultation. Hablamos Español.