Family purpose doctrine
Encyclopedia
In law
, the family purpose doctrine is a rule that holds the owner of an automobile
liable for damages
to others while a member of the family is driving the vehicle, regardless of whether or not the owner gave permission. The underlying theory is that the vehicle is owned for family purposes.
In the US, this is primarily a state-level rule with considerable variation in its application. For example, in Arizona, the family purpose doctrine is applied very broadly and holds parents liable even for the negligence
of a child driving a motor vehicle in defiance of driving restrictions placed upon him. In Georgia, the 'family purpose' liability extends to third parties allowed by the teenage driver to operate the car. Georgia also extends the rule to adult children in some cases and explicitly extends the rule to family boats.
In Colorado, on the other hand, the same term is used to describe joint and several liability
for household bills.
Law
Law is a system of rules and guidelines which are enforced through social institutions to govern behavior, wherever possible. It shapes politics, economics and society in numerous ways and serves as a social mediator of relations between people. Contract law regulates everything from buying a bus...
, the family purpose doctrine is a rule that holds the owner of an automobile
Automobile
An automobile, autocar, motor car or car is a wheeled motor vehicle used for transporting passengers, which also carries its own engine or motor...
liable for damages
Damages
In law, damages is an award, typically of money, to be paid to a person as compensation for loss or injury; grammatically, it is a singular noun, not plural.- Compensatory damages :...
to others while a member of the family is driving the vehicle, regardless of whether or not the owner gave permission. The underlying theory is that the vehicle is owned for family purposes.
In the US, this is primarily a state-level rule with considerable variation in its application. For example, in Arizona, the family purpose doctrine is applied very broadly and holds parents liable even for the negligence
Negligence
Negligence is a failure to exercise the care that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in like circumstances. The area of tort law known as negligence involves harm caused by carelessness, not intentional harm.According to Jay M...
of a child driving a motor vehicle in defiance of driving restrictions placed upon him. In Georgia, the 'family purpose' liability extends to third parties allowed by the teenage driver to operate the car. Georgia also extends the rule to adult children in some cases and explicitly extends the rule to family boats.
In Colorado, on the other hand, the same term is used to describe joint and several liability
Joint and several liability
Where two or more persons are liable in respect of the same liability, in most common law legal systems they may either be:* jointly liable, or* severally liable, or* jointly and severally liable.-Joint liability:...
for household bills.