Are parents legally responsible for damage their child causes in a store?

[MrShaun]

Parenting is a difficult job. You take your child into a local store and the child damages product (s). Whether or not you agree, legally the parent becomes responsible. Hopefully it wasn't ultra expensive.

What's your opinion?

Absolutely not. A store should be child proof.

Maybe. It depends on the cost.

Absolutely. Hopefully the child is taught by having to work off the debt.

A total of 20 votes were cast: 7 girls and 13 guys. See detailed results

[Kayla45]

Yes they absolutely are, if you’re going to take your child to a public place it’s your responsibility as the parent to watch your child. I don’t blame companies at all for making the parents pay for property damage. Maybe it will be a proper life lesson in parenting.

[FreyaRed]

Businesses pay for insurance for unintentional damages caused on wares by customers inside a store.
The question is definition of "unintentional" in case of children.

[MrChinaski]

Businesses mostly wear the 'shrinkage' rather than insurers. House insurance doesn't normally cover termites because occupant prevention and observation can substantially reduce the risk... same, same. Insurance normally only covers unavoidable loss, like fires, etc.

[Lliam]

Is the child going to pay for it? No.
That kid is the parent's responsibility and they are responsible for its actions. Hopefully, after they pay for the damage, they will teach the brat how to behave.

[DryGermanGuy]

In Germany the signs at construction sites read "Parents are liable for their children". For store damage it depends on if parents violated their supervisory duty.

[Kelley1]

It depends on the cost and the story's policy. If a child breaks a $5 item, the store will let it go. If a child destroys a $10,000 antique vase or rare painting, the parent will have to pay either the retail or replacement cost.

[NathanDavis]

it's literally part of the word as a concept "parenting"

[slatyb]

Children are considered an extension of their parents, and the parents are legally liable for the actions of the child.

[LiamJHayden]

It depends. Unintentional damage to something stocked to sit precariously on the shelf, no. Intentional, yes.

[Staximus]

This is a dumb question, everybody knows that the parents are responsible for keeping their child under control in public

[Shy_Steve]

Thats a part of being an adult and especially a parent, Responsibility.

[Nikki1989]

Obviously.

[Vegasrunner]

Kind of obvious.

[In_Trance]

Check your local laws

[FunkyMonkee]

Yes!!

[Likes2drive]

Most likely yes