Most people will be involved in at least one accident in their life. A car accident can range from minor to severe and even a minor accident can end up costing a significant amount of dollars and property damage. In a lot of cases, the car driver who causes the accident will be responsible for the damage caused due to the crash. But this is not always the case.
It often happens that we do not think twice about letting a family member or a friend drive the car if the situation calls for it. However, you are not thinking about the consequences of that person ending up in an auto wreck. There are some situations that cause confusion with insurance companies and you may be affected, even if you were not in the car during that time.
If the owner of the vehicle and the driver of the vehicle are different, there will be different liability. The claim for damages can be against more than one individual. There are situations when someone else is responsible for your accident and here is all you need to know about it.
Someone else driving your car
A lot of people are of the opinion that only the driver of the car is responsible in case of an accident. When they let their family member or friend drive the car, they are of the opinion that they will drive responsibly and in case of anything, they will be responsible for it. But this is not the case. Insurance applies to the vehicle and not to the individual. So, if somebody who is not covered in your insurance plan is driving the car, your insurance will be applicable in case of an accident. In case of a minor accident, it might not be a huge deal. But if it is a serious accident, it could get complicated.
The professionals at www.jamesmckiernanlawyers.com state that there are certain situations where you need not worry about the insurance. If your family member or friend is driving the car and gets in an accident, but the other driver was at fault, then the other driver’s insurance will cover for all the costs and damages.
If your friend was at fault, it can get a little serious. If the accident has not caused any injuries, the insurance will cover for the damages. But if you do not have collision coverage, it will be your responsibility to cover for the damages to the vehicle and you will also pay the deductible. In case the accident causes bodily harm, the insurance will be used to cover for the medical bills. In the case of a serious injury, you will owe more money to cover the cost of injuries.
If your friend who was driving the car has no insurance at all, it can be a dangerous situation. There is no other insurance plan to cover the additional costs after yours is used. It was your car and your insurance applies so you will be responsible for covering the rest of the costs. Before you let a friend borrow your car, you need to check if they have insurance coverage. It is not a good idea to lend them the car if they do not have coverage. There could be severe financial issues which could put you in trouble in case of an accident or collision.
Someone steals your car
If somebody steals your car and causes an accident, there will be a different issue altogether. If it is a stranger, then you will not be liable for the injuries of the other person. But the collision coverage will be used to pay for the damages to the car. If it is your friend or an acquaintance who steals your car, you will have to prove that they did not have the permission to do so. You need to convince the insurance company and if they believe you, they will use their insurance cover for the damages and you will be spared. If the insurance company does not believe you, you might have to contact an attorney.
In these situations, you might not be completely liable for the accident and damages. However, the situation may vary according to the circumstances. If the injury is minor and the damages are minimal, you might not face a lot of trouble. It is best to have an insurance cover for all damages to your car. It will save you many dollars and will allow you to drive in peace. Whenever you allow your friends or a family member to drive your car, you need to ensure that they are capable of driving safely and have an insurance cover.