Father And Son Face Criminal Charges After Teen Causes Fatal Accident
Teen drivers cause accidents so often that some parents hope that their own children will join the growing trend among young people not to get a driver’s license until they are in their 20s, or even older. The ones whose kids are eager to drive console themselves with the statistics that show that most accidents caused by newly licensed drivers are minor fender benders where no one gets seriously injured. Car insurance providers remind parents that they are legally responsible for damage caused by their minor children’s driving mistakes. Occasionally, you read in the news about a personal injury settlement paid by a wealthy family that bought their son or daughter an expensive car when the teen turned 16 and got a driver’s license, only to crash the car and injure the occupants of one or more vehicles. This is just part of being a parent, but something extraordinary has to happen for a parent to get criminal charges because of an accident caused by his or her teen son or daughter, when the parent was not in the car at the time of the accident. If you are facing criminal charges because of your teen’s negligence, vehicular or otherwise, contact a Tampa criminal defense lawyer.
Teen Driver Must Spend the Rest of His Adolescence in Juvenile Detention
In 2023, a driver, who was 15 and had a learner’s permit, drove his father’s car, with several of his friends as passengers. At an intersection in Poinciana, he struck another car, killing all four occupants. Witnesses said that the driver was driving at least 75 miles per hour before he struck the vehicle and did not try to slow down. He was convicted of manslaughter and sentenced to four years in juvenile detention, followed by two years of supervised release. He will be 21 years old when his sentence ends. This is consistent with other cases where young drivers have caused fatal accidents. Pursuant to the Youthful Offender Act, courts do not sentence defendants under the age of 21 to sentences exceeding six years, except for the most malicious crimes.
Father Charged With Manslaughter After Underage Son Causes Fatal Collision
The father also received charges for manslaughter. He pleaded not guilty, and at his trial, he argued that the definition of manslaughter does not apply to his minor role in his son’s crime. In October 2025, the jury convicted him of four counts of manslaughter. His sentencing hearing will take place in November.
Contact Tampa Criminal Defense Attorney Bryant Scriven
A criminal defense lawyer can help you get justice if you are facing criminal charges for causing a serious car accident or letting the at fault driver in a serious accident drive a car that belongs to you. Contact Scriven Law in Tampa, Florida to schedule a consultation.
Source:
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