Child Crashes Into Home, Patrol Car
Children can easily get into mischief. One thing young children and teens like to do is get in cars and pretend to drive. This imaginary driving can sometimes lead to accidents. In some cases, the car does not even have to be running in order for an accident to occur.
A child hit a patrol car and house in a neighborhood in Spring, almost 30 minutes outside Houston. The incident happened at around noon on July 16 in the 9200 block of Landry Boulevard.
The driver, reportedly a child between 7 and 10 years old, hit a house with a vehicle. The child then backed into an unoccupied Harris County Sheriff’s Office (HCSO) patrol vehicle. The child then drove forward and crashed into a home.
The child then fled on foot before police caught him. Nobody was injured in the crash. It is unknown why the unoccupied patrol car was in the area.
Driving Without a License
In Texas, driving without a license comes with serious penalties. Typically, it is a class A misdemeanor, punishable by jail time as well as a fine of up to $4,000. If the car accident causes injuries or death to another person, it is also a class A misdemeanor.
A person can face civil liability as well for causing a car accident while unlicensed. This means that the driver may be held financially responsible for injuries and damages suffered in the car accident. Your auto insurance provider will typically pay for these damages, However, if you were also driving without auto insurance, you may have to pay for these expenses out of pocket.
Given that a young child was driving the vehicle in this case, it is unknown what penalties he will face, if any. Since he is underage and nobody was injured, it’s unlikely he will be sued. However, his parents may be on the hook for damage to the home as well as the damage to the police vehicle.
There is also an element called negligent entrustment. This is when someone entrusts their vehicle to someone who is unlicensed. For example, it is against the law for a parent to allow an unlicensed child to knowingly operate a motor vehicle. If a car accident occurs, the person who let the child drive may have to pay all or part of the damages through their auto insurance provider. This could lead to an increase in insurance premiums.
It is important to know that fleeing an accident can result in even harsher penalties. It’s always a good idea to remain at the accident scene after being involved in a crash.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Car crashes can happen at any time. Even children and unlicensed drivers can cause major accidents.
A Houston auto accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC can assess your case and help you get compensation for all your injuries. Schedule a free consultation by calling 281-347-3247 or filling out the online form.
Source:
khou.com/article/news/local/child-crashes-into-car-and-house-in-spring/285-1ad134c3-22d3-465e-adfa-67cb8c24680e
