Are you responsible for paying an accident when someone else was driving your car without your knowledge?

Emmy

You are going to need a lawyer, and if you can provide medical bills proving you weren't driving. If you do know who was driving, You are going to need to get them involved too.
How could you not know your care was in an accident that caused 11,000 damage to someone else? and why did it take over a year?

Shaq30

You will need to resolve the issue first with your insurance and make sure they cover this and get legal help. You will need to sue the person who dorve your car and you will need proof. Not he say, she say. You will need the police report and your Dr's bill to show you were in the hospital and you need some kind of proof as to how he got access to your car keys. Because if you gave them to him to hold you may lose the case. If he stole your keys-you may have a good case if you or someone else can prove he stole them. Good luck.

Queen B

yes you can be held liable. there is NO WAY someone could do 11,000 damage to my car and me not notice. in order to have the "blame" placed on your friend, you would have to file a police report stating he stole your car. after a year, the police will probably laugh at you. your insurance company that had you insured at the time of the accident is the one who will be liable to pay the claim.

uthockey32

First you need to contact the police and give them the information. They will then prosecute your friend. You will have to prove that he took the car with out permission, in which case the people will have to sue him. In most states you would be liable as the car owner because he did not have insurance. Call your currant agent and give them the details and if they are a good company they will help you fight this.

stuckatmickey_ds

Sadly you are ultimately responsible for any damages done by your property. You will be responsible for payment of the law suit. You should get a lawyer. You can sue your "friend" for the money that you pay out. Its not fair but this happens all the time. An innocent person is stuck paying for someone else's mistake. That is the law where I live at least every state differs though. You need to get a lawyer ASAP and put the heat on your "friend," I use that term loosely. I hope your baby and you are doing OK, other than this problem.

Jasmine

How on earth would you not know that your friend had done $11,000 worth of damage with your car? Why does he have your keys if you said he wasn't supposed to be driving it?

If your friend is denying responsibility, then you will need to get a lawyer quick!

Aley

Without your knowledge = illegal.
You're not the one who drives, therefore you cannot be sued.
Imagine a stolen car, the thief was chased by stolen car, therefore he sped up and made lots of accidents and damages. The police will not sue the owner right?

The victim of the accident sues you because he wants the money no matter what.
Get legal help, that's the best solution.

Earl

You should get legal help so you can get a case set up. Also you are responsible because it was your car and you insurance. You may have not know he was driving it but that does not matter to the courts. You should be fine because you were in the hospital giving birth to your son but you may want the date and time of when the accident happened and the date and time of when you were admitted to the hospital and when you gave birth.

Mahogani J

If the accident happened in Dec 2006, you need to get with the company that insured you at that time. Your current insurer will have nothing to do with it.

The driver probably didn't have any coverage and thats why they are coming after you now. Even though he was the driver, the other individual or their company can still sue you as the registered owner of the vehicle.

Consulting legal counsel certainly couldn't hurt.

duce

Well it looks like everything will fall on you, your car is your responsibility, whether you're driving it or someone else is, it was unfortunate that this person was driving your car without your knowledge, and worse yet he got into an accident and didn't tell you, i'm assumimg he didn't. But you are the owner so you have to take responsibility, i'd get a layer if I were you seeing as the person is suing you

older

call your insurance company asap and they can give you all the correct info. you need and probably handle the whole thing for you.--do it now

ray9382

Think you should try the Citizens Advice Bureau. They can steer you in the right direction.

golftango29

Was the person driving your vehicle insured? If so, then it is on the driver of the vehicle, not your insurance. If they were not insured, then the person that is suing needs to consult their insurance company and claim it on their un/under insured provision.

Remember, your insurance follows you, not your vehicle. If I drive a rental, my insurance covers me. If I drive my friendâ€™s car, my insurance covers me. If I wreck my friendâ€™s car, his insurance will sue my insurance company. If I didn't have permission, then I was in possession of a stolen vehicle and could face fines/imprisonment. Talk to your local police and your insurance company pronto.

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