What will happen if my 23 year old son was at fault for an accident but he does not have a license or insurance and he was driving a car that is under my name?

Get Legal Help Today

Compare Quotes From Top Companies and Save

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption

What will happen if my 23 year old son was at fault for an accident but he does not have a license or insurance and he was driving a car that is under my name?

I have full insurance coverage under my name.

Asked on November 7, 2015 under Accident Law, Indiana

Answers:

S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 8 years ago | Contributor

You are liable for your son's accident because you are the registered owner of the vehicle.  Your son will be cited for driving without a license or insurance.
Your insurance might deny the claim because your son was not an authorized driver on your insurance policy.  If that happens, you will be sued for negligence and will be liable for the property damage (cost of repairs to the other vehicle) and the personal injury claims of the occupants of the other vehicle.  The personal injury claims will include compensation for the medical bills, compensation for pain and suffering which is an amount in addition to the medical bills , and  compensation for wage loss.
If this lawsuit results in a court judgment against you in an amount you cannot afford to pay, it would be advisable to consider filing bankruptcy at that time.  Chapter 7 bankruptcy is straight liquidation which will eliminate the debt.


IMPORTANT NOTICE: The Answer(s) provided above are for general information only. The attorney providing the answer was not serving as the attorney for the person submitting the question or in any attorney-client relationship with such person. Laws may vary from state to state, and sometimes change. Tiny variations in the facts, or a fact not set forth in a question, often can change a legal outcome or an attorney's conclusion. Although AttorneyPages.com has verified the attorney was admitted to practice law in at least one jurisdiction, he or she may not be authorized to practice law in the jurisdiction referred to in the question, nor is he or she necessarily experienced in the area of the law involved. Unlike the information in the Answer(s) above, upon which you should NOT rely, for personal advice you can rely upon we suggest you retain an attorney to represent you.

Get Legal Help Today

Find the right lawyer for your legal issue.

secured lock Secured with SHA-256 Encryption