Your child took your car without asking your permission. Now they got in trouble with the law. This is every parent’s worst nightmare. What should you do next?

If your child is over the age of 18, they will be responsible for their actions. However, if your child is a juvenile you may be liable for their actions. If this is the case, you need to contact an attorney to decide what your best course of action is, but here are some standard steps to take.

Stay Calm.

We know this can be difficult. Staying calm when you know your child is in trouble is nearly impossible, but it is very important to try. If you can remain calm when speaking to your child, they will see that you are calm and in control even with the mistake they made.

You should also encourage your child to remain calm. They are probably feeling scared and anxious. They could also feel guilty for their decisions adding more stress to them and none of this is going to help the situation. Make sure your child knows that they should remain silent. By exercising that right, they won’t panic and say or do anything that could make the situation worse.

Discuss With Your Child.

You should discuss what happened with your child and why what they did was wrong. Your child needs to understand that driving without permission is against the law and there could be serious consequences for their actions. They could end up with a record and even jail time. Your child also needs to know that their actions put others in danger.

Make sure your child knows that they must always ask permission before taking your car. Even the shortest trip needs your approval before driving off. The results of their actions and getting into trouble with law enforcement could negatively affect their future.

Hire an Attorney.

Aside from staying calm, and keeping your child calm, you need to hire an attorney. An experienced attorney will help you understand the charges against your child and the possible consequences they could be facing. They will also help you develop a plan to lessen your damages and help you and your family get back on track.

Depending on the charges, having a good lawyer could keep you out of court. It could be that apologizing to the victim and paying for any damages could bring the case to an end. The goal of hiring an attorney is to help you and your child through this situation, lessen your damages and help them understand what they did wrong.

Call Leslie.

If you find yourself receiving a call from law enforcement informing you that your child has been arrested while driving your vehicle, you need to contact an experienced attorney. Taking quick action is important, but you probably should not handle the situation on your own. If your child is in trouble for driving your car without permission, call Leslie today for your free consultation, 252-752-0297.