How much am I responsible to pay for dirtbike that I broke?
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How much am I responsible to pay for dirtbike that I broke?
About 6 months ago, I broke my friend’s aunt’s dirt bike. She offered for me to ride it. I was 18 years old and it was my first time riding it. It broke. She say she needs roughly $3,000 to fix it. How much am I responsible to pay? She asked hoe much I coud afforf to pay and i told her about $1,000 but it wasn’t enough.
Asked on May 7, 2012 under Accident Law, Washington
Answers:
S.L,. Member, California Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 11 years ago | Contributor
You would be liable for negligence for the damage to the dirt bike. Negligence is the failure to exercies due care (that degree of care that a reasonable person would have exercised under the same or similar circumstances to prevent foreseeable harm). You would be liable for the total cost of repairs to the dirt bike. Your aunt could sue you for negligence and her damages (the amount of compensation she is seeking in her lawsuit would be the cost of repairs to the dirt bike). She may be able to file the lawsuit in Small Claims Court. Her damages would also include court costs such as the court filing fee and process server fee.
Your aunt has to mitigate (minimize) damages. For example, the repair shop where the bike is to be repaired should be charging an amount comparable to what other repair shops in the area are charging. If your aunt selects the most expensive place she can find to repair the dirt bike, her damages will be reduced accordingly.
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