It happens all the time; we let a friend or family member borrow a car for one reason or another. The question becomes what happens if I allow someone to borrow my car and they are involved in a crash?
If you allow an individual to borrow your car or vehicle and that individual causes an accident while driving your vehicle, you may still be responsible for the accident. Usually, the owner of a vehicle is responsible for the negligence of any individual that the owner allows to permissively use the vehicle.
The next questions that arise are what insurance applies. The insurance coverage issues can become complicated. Usually both the driver’s insurance and the owner’s insurance could be responsible for damages and injuries caused by the crash. It all depends on the type of insurance coverage being used and the language in the driver’s insurance policy and the owner’s insurance policy.
The general assumption in auto insurance is that the insurance policy follows a person not a vehicle, however, there are numerous exceptions to this general assumption. The exceptions are so numerous that we could spend months on the Thacker and Mulvihill, PLLC blog dissecting the application of specific auto insurance coverages and how they apply to an auto accident when the driver of a vehicle is not the owner of the vehicle.
If you or a loved one are involved in a motor vehicle crash and have questions regarding insurance coverage and how it applies to your specific accident, it is extremely important that you contact an experienced and knowledgeable attorney that is capable of answering these complicated questions. At Thacker and Mulvihill, PLLC, we take the time to explain the nuances of the law and answer all of your questions.
If you or a loved one were injured from an accident, please contact us at Thacker and Mulvihill, PLLC for a free consultation. Care, Compassion, and Preparation: Florida Personal Injury Law As It Should Be