Chicago area parents who let kids drink can be subject to huge penalties
With Memorial Day and summer parties right around the corner, underage drinking becomes more prevalent—and exposes parents to increased exposure to civil and criminal liability for their kids’ actions. A law that went into effect in October, 2004 called the “Drug or Alcohol Impaired Minor Responsibility Act” exposes adults who allow under-aged drinking to a wide range of liability.
Take for example George Baldwin of Lake Forest, who received a $2.5 million settlement this winter from a case involving his ex-girlfriend’s mother, whom he claimed allowed her two daughters to drink and give him and a friend alcohol. Allegedly, an argument ensued and the two younger men left and got in a car accident that left Baldwin paralyzed from the chest down.
On the civil side, insurance companies that are involved in nearly every Chicago car accident case are starting to find that jurors will hold parents at least partially responsible for injuries caused by underage drinking on their property. Insurance carriers are now starting to take this into consideration when deciding to how settle cases and there may be a time when insurance coverage is denied in cases where parents allow their kids to drink --which could open parents up to costly personal liability for the damaged party’s accidents.
Monetary sanctions are only the beginning. In addition, providing alcohol to someone younger than 21 is a misdemeanor in Illinois, punishable with up to a year in jail and a $2,500 fine.
Comments about this post can be directed to the Chicago car accident attorneys at Shea Law Group.
