If I Let Someone Else Drive My Car, Can I Be Held Liable In Case Of An Accident?
This is another one of those questions that the answer is “it depends”. The law governing car accidents and insurance can be very confusing to the regular person as the terminology that is stated in legal wording. If you allowed a person to drive your car and it had defective parts, yes you could still be liable for property damages, injuries that occurred, and if a person died in the accident. You may be liable for other vehicles and persons that were involved in the accident, if the car in fact had defective equipment such as the turn signal light not working, bad brakes, and so on and so forth. However, in some cases, the manufacturer may be liable if the vehicle was defective at the time of purchase.
If you allow a minor to drive your car, you would also be held responsible for property damages and injuries. The same goes for allowing a person that is intoxicated, using drugs, or inexperienced.
The laws governing liability and responsibility differ from state to state. For anyone in this situation, you should consult a car accident attorney to learn your options. He/she will need to review your insurance policy and the accident or police report to help you know your best options. Your accident attorney will also be able to represent you in case of a court case and ensure your rights are not violated.
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