Oops! Your child accidentally knocked over an expensive vase at your aunt’s house, or had a mishap at the babysitter’s place and broke something. Who is liable for the damage? You as the parent, or your child? Keep reading to find out if you are covered in cases such as the ones above and what insurance you really need.
First of all, check your liability insurance. If your policy says that it covers only you and your partner, change your status to married/cohabiting with children or single parent. Read more about how a new addition to the family affects your insurance.
As a parent or guardian, you are responsible for your children, including when your children are not with you. When they’re at a friend’s house, for example, or staying with their grandparents. If your children break something, such as a window, you can be held liable. Whether or not you are indeed liable depends on the child’s age. A 4-year-old does not have the same awareness as a 17-year-old, and the law takes this into account.
If you have a child in this age bracket, you and your child are jointly responsible for any damage they cause. So the person whose property was damaged can hold both you, as the parent or guardian, and your child liable. If you could have prevented your child from causing the damage, but failed to do so, you as the parent or guardian are fully liable for the damage.
From age 16, children are responsible for their own actions and can therefore be held liable, unless you, i.e. the parent or guardian, have acted unlawfully or been negligent in the case in question. If so, you can still be held liable. If you know, for example, that your child’s moped does not have third-party liability insurance and your child causes damage while riding it, you are liable.
If your child is aged 18 or over, they are officially of age before the law and fully liable for their own actions. You, as a parent or guardian, can then no longer be held liable for any damage your child causes.
While playing, there is always a chance of children breaking something valuable belonging to someone else. If your child is under 14, such damage will be covered by your personal liability insurance.
If your children are over 14, you will need liability insurance with family cover. This will cover you, your partner, your children, and even your pets.
If your child still lives at home and turns 18, or goes away to university, they will still be included on your family policy. This is one of the reasons why ABN AMRO’s personal liability insurance tops the Dutch consumers’ association’s ranking.
Has your child spilt lemonade all over your MacBook? Broke a window while playing football in the back garden? Any damage caused by your children in your own home or garden will only be covered by your home and contents insurance if the cause is covered. With comprehensive insurance that covers all risks, you are insured for damage to your home and belongings no matter what caused it. Even your child’s clumsiest of accidents.
