What to do if I recently gave a friend of mine permission for limited use of my vehicle, transportation to work and home and they had an accident?
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What to do if I recently gave a friend of mine permission for limited use of my vehicle, transportation to work and home and they had an accident?
I temporarily placed her on my insurance policy which is liability only with a maximum of $50K per person bodily injury, and $100K per accident damages. During that time she was involved in a 2 vehicle accident while driving my vehicle, the driver of the other vehicle is seriously injured and will require intensive med treatment. The accident was a light dispute and possibly both of the drivers were under the influence of drugs or alcohol (results pending) both vehicles are total losses, neither were very valuable. I was out of the country at the time of the accident. How much could I be liable for if sued by the family?
Asked on September 24, 2013 under Accident Law, Florida
Answers:
Anne Brady / Law Office of Anne Brady
Answered 10 years ago | Contributor
If you knew that this friend of yours had a history of using drugs and alcohol and driving, you may be liable to the other driver under the theory of negligent entrustment. If so, you could be liable for the difference between what your insurance covered and the other driver's actual medical bills plus additional moneys for pain and suffering.
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