If a person puts their sister’s car in their name because the sister does not have a license and the sister gets in an accident, how much trouble can that person get in?
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If a person puts their sister’s car in their name because the sister does not have a license and the sister gets in an accident, how much trouble can that person get in?
Also, there is no insurance on the vehicle.
Asked on March 1, 2013 under Accident Law, Ohio
Answers:
S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
If your sister was at fault in the accident, you as the registered owner of the vehicle are liable for the accident. The registered owner's liability would include property damage (cost of repairs) to the other vehicle and liability for the personal injury claims of the occupants of the other vehicle. Liability for personal injury would include the medical bills, pain and suffering, which is an amount in addition to the medical bills, and wage loss. Compensation for the medical bills is straight reimbursement. Compensation for pain and suffering is an amount in addition to the medical bills based on the medical reports which document the nature and extent of the injuries. Compensation for wage loss is straight reimbursement.
Since there wasn't any insurance on the vehicle driven by the sister, the registered owner will be sued for negligence and will be liable as stated above for the property damage and personal injury claims of the party who was not at fault in the accident.
If your sister was NOT at fault in the accident, then the above information does not apply and you as the registered owner would have a claim for property damage against the other driver's (at-fault party's) insurance carrier. If your sister was injured in the accident and was not at fault in the accident, she would have a personal injury claim for medical bills, pain and suffering, and wage loss to be filed with the at-fault party's insurance carrier. If the at-fault party does NOT have insurance, you and your sister would sue the at-fault party for negligence based on property damage and personal injury as discussed above.
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