What happens if I lend my car to someone who gets into an accident while driving it?

Henderson Car Accident Lawyers Jones WilsonIf you are like many people, you may not give a second thought to lending your vehicle to a family member or friend to help them out. Or maybe your babysitter drives your kids in your more dependable vehicle. But what happens if this person gets in a car accident while driving your car? Will their automobile insurance policy cover the damages caused by the crash?

What Could Happen If You Give Someone Permission to Drive Your Vehicle

You may have decided in part to lend out your vehicle because the person had a good driving record and a good automobile insurance policy. However, the accident would follow the vehicle driven in the crash, not the driver. Depending on who caused the crash, the following could happen:

  • If the person you lent your auto to was at fault, you would face liability as the owner of the vehicle, and your insurance policy would be primarily liable. The insurance policy for the person who borrowed your vehicle would be secondarily responsible. This secondary insurance policy could pay to compensate the victims if the amount they are entitled to exceeds your policy limits.
  • If the other driver was at fault in causing the accident, he would be liable for compensating any injured victim—and you for your vehicle damage.
  • If the person who borrowed your vehicle was uninsured, you could be liable for all of the damages. This means that you could face personal liability if the amount owed is more than your insurance limits.

This assumes that the person you lent the vehicle to is not someone excluded from coverage under your vehicle insurance policy. In addition, if the person took your vehicle without your permission, his own insurance policy could be primarily liable, and you most likely would not be responsible for any damages.

Have You Been Involved In A Henderson Or Las Vegas Car Accident?

If you’ve been injured in a car accident you need to speak with an experienced car accident lawyer as soon as possible. Contact us online or call our Henderson office directly at 702.405.6000 to schedule a free initial consultation.

Why Work with us?

Finding the right lawyer to represent your injury case can be extremely frustrating. However, with 35 years worth of experience and insider knowledge of how insurance companies work, the Jones Wilson law firm stands out from the crowd. Other attorneys pick and choose their clients based on case notoriety, but we’re here to help you, no matter how large or small your case.
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