Can I be held responsible for damages that occurred, if my sibling was driving my vehicle without my permission while I was incarcerated?
Get Legal Help Today
Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save
Secured with SHA-256 Encryption
Can I be held responsible for damages that occurred, if my sibling was driving my vehicle without my permission while I was incarcerated?
Asked on January 3, 2013 under Accident Law, Missouri
Answers:
S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
Unfortunately, as the registered owner of the vehicle, you are liable for damages from an accident caused by your sibling driving your car.
Your liability would include the property damage and personal injury claims of the occupant or occupants of the other vehicle not at fault in the accident.
If you had auto insurance, refer the matter to your auto insurance company. If the case is settled with the other party, NO lawsuit is filed. If the case is NOT settled with the other party and a lawsuit is filed against you, your auto insurance company will provide you with an attorney at no cost to you.
You can also sue your sibling to recover the amount of a judgment against you. You can also sue your sibling for conversion for driving your car without your consent. Conversion is the unauthorized assumption of the right of ownership over your personal property. Conversion is any unauthorized act which deprives the owner of his or her property permanently or for an indefinite time. Conversion is a civil case (lawsuit) for theft. You would file only one lawsuit against your sibling with separate causes of action (claims) for negligence (for the accident) and conversion (for taking your vehicle).
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.