What to do if the other day I was involved in a very small collision in a parking lot on private property?

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What to do if the other day I was involved in a very small collision in a parking lot on private property?

I pulled out and lightly hit another car going maybe 5 miles an hour. The damage to the other car was a few scratches and a small dents. The driver was not the owner of the car and opted to exchange numbers and leave it at that. The car was loaned to this man by a friend and it doesn’t even belong to her, apparently it belongs to her ex-husband. I told her I don’t mind paying for the damages, however she called me and said she reported it to her insurance company, and lied to them claiming that she hit a pole. She is asking for $500 to pay the deductible for her insurance, and lying about what happened. What should I do? Am I legally liable to pay?

Asked on July 15, 2013 under Accident Law, Virginia

Answers:

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

Answered 10 years ago | Contributor

Since the driver was not the regsitered owner of the car, don't pay her anything.  The registered owner of the vehicle is the person to contact.  You are liable for the damage to the car.  It would be advisable to refer the matter to your insurance company and let your insurance company handle it and pay for the registered owner's property damage.


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