What to do regarding liability after reporting a bad driver?
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What to do regarding liability after reporting a bad driver?
My sister has seizure like experiences and will not get a diagnosis/medical help. I’m going completely by what she told me over about 6 months. She continued to drive. I felt she was a danger for other drivers and pedestrians so I filled out DMV paperwork for WA where she lives. They will suspend her license if she refuses treatment. She and her husband are now threatening both charges against me and lawsuits. Can they do this legally? Should I hire a lawyer?
Asked on December 20, 2018 under General Practice, Oregon
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
There is no valid legal claim or cause of action against you, so long as you reported truthfully: there is no liability for a truthful reporting of a safety or legal issue.
That, however, does not mean that they might not file a lawsuit: the courts do not pre-screen filed lawsuits to ensure that they are valid. And if a suit is filed, then retain an attorney and respond to it: while your lawyer should be able to knock it out quickly, if you fail to respond to an otherwise-invalid lawsuit, you will lose by "default" (like losing a ball game by not showing up to play or having too few players), which then puts you on the back foot as you try to have the judgment vacated after the fact.
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