If Someone Is In An Auto Accident In My Car, Am I Liable?

It happens to everyone – your brother needs to borrow your car to run some errands, or a friend needs to run an errand. People drive others’ cars all the time, so how can it be harmful? It can be more harmful than you think. The scary reality is that anything can happen, so that quick trip can become anything from a fender bender to someone’s worst nightmare.

If you let someone drive your car, how much responsibility do you truly have over a car accident that may occur? Are you liable? How would your car insurance policy be affected?

Responsibility

The responsibility of a car begins with its driver. Anything can happen to anyone, which can be a scary thought. The safest driver in the world can cause an accident, but even then, that is why it is called an accident; because it is accidental.

When owning a vehicle, it is best to make responsible decisions at all times, from knowing when to bring in your car for checkups or repairs, to knowing when to let someone else drive your car. In best case scenarios, the only time you should not be driving your car is when you are intoxicated or otherwise unable to drive your own car. Even your sister’s quick trip to the supermarket can become an all-day event if an accident were to occur. Always be sure to make the safest and most responsible decisions for the safety of you and those around you.

Car Accident Law

Our beautiful sunny state of Florida has a legal principle titled the “Dangerous Instrumentality Doctrine.” In the case of the road, the car is the instrument and its use can be labeled as dangerous depending on what happens. This doctrine makes the owner of the vehicle liable for any negligent use by the permissive user. This means that you are liable if you give someone permission to drive your car and they cause an accident. If your vehicle is stolen, then the owner of the car is not responsible. For questions about your specific situation, it is best to speak with an experienced attorney.

Car Insurance Policy

The policy of the car insurance depends on what kind of insurance you have for your car. If the driver you loaned your car to is at fault, then it all depends on the collision coverage of our insurance. If the policy does not include collision coverage, then none is available. At this point, the driver and the owner will have to come up with a decision or compromise on who pays the deductible. Some insurance companies will surcharge both the owner and the driver. Insurance companies base rates on what may occur in the future. Your insurance will interpret a higher risk, thus you will be charged a higher price. Any traffic tickets the driver receives in your car will not affect your car or your car insurance policy, just the driver and their own license.

Contact Us Today

A car accident is never a fun experience for anyone involved. It is very easy to begin to panic in a situation that is as stressful as dealing with life post accident. The key thing to remember is to not panic, and handle things one step at a time. In some rare cases, however, you may become vulnerable if the victim of the accident wants to sue you instead of the driver. In this case, you may be in need of the law on your side. You did not cause the accident, you just let someone borrow you car. You did not want any of this to happen, and we can help. Our expert attorneys at Lowman Law can help you in your case. If you have any questions about insurance policy, the laws of the road, or if you need help in a case in which you were not the driver of your car, contact us today.