What if someone else is driving your car and has an accident in Indiana? In this situation, your insurance coverage usually follows the vehicle, meaning your insurance company may cover the damage, depending on liability for the wreck.
Our team at Vaughan & Vaughan can help you learn more about liability for car wrecks in Indiana. We can also step in to represent you if a friend was in an accident while operating your vehicle.
Learn more about this situation by calling or filling out our online contact form. You can speak with an Indiana car accident lawyer today.
What Happens If Someone Who Isn’t on Your Insurance Crashes Your Car?
If someone borrows and crashes your car, your insurance company will likely take over and handle the claim. However, this rule only applies if you give the other driver verbal permission to take and operate your vehicle.
If your friend caused the accident, your insurance policy may have to cover the costs of the other driver’s medical expenses, lost wages, and property damage. Therefore, we recommend exercising caution when allowing someone to borrow your vehicle.
Are There Exceptions that Prevent Insurance Coverage?
Sometimes, insurance companies ask to exclude specific drivers from policy coverage when setting up insurance. If you loan your vehicle to someone expressly excluded from your insurance policy, your friend may be fully liable for all losses in the wreck.
What If a Friend with Insurance Borrows Your Vehicle and Has an Accident?
What if someone else is driving your car and has an accident while carrying their own insurance? In this situation, your insurance will still kick in first if your friend caused the collision.
However, if the expenses exceed the policy limits for your car insurance, your friend’s insurance will likely take over, acting as a secondary form of insurance. In this situation, your friend carries the duty to cover costs beyond your policy limits.
If your friend does not have insurance, you may face liability for any costs over the policy limits on your insurance.
What If Someone Takes Your Vehicle Without Permission and Wrecks it?
If someone steals your vehicle or otherwise takes it without your permission, your insurance may not have to cover the results of any accident they cause. Due to their unlawful actions, the driver who stole the vehicle may have to cover all financial costs associated with the wreck.
What If Someone Else Caused a Wreck in Indiana?
What if someone else is driving your car and has an accident caused by someone else in Indiana? In this situation, the at-fault driver will have to cover the costs associated with the wreck, including potential damage to your vehicle.
An Indiana highway car accident lawyer may help you build a claim if the other driver tries to deny responsibility for the collision. You can contact a lawyer immediately after your friend informs you of a wreck.
Attorneys in Indiana can often resolve these claims out of court with an insurance settlement. In other cases, a lawyer may help you and the friend who borrowed your vehicle as you consider a lawsuit.
What If You Let Someone Drive When You Knew Them to Be Dangerous?
You may be liable for the damage caused by a car accident if you give permission to someone considered a risk behind the wheel. For example, you may face liability issues if you gave your vehicle to:
- Someone too young to drive
- Someone impaired by alcohol or drugs
- Someone who lost their license because of unsafe driving
- Someone with dementia or another condition that impacts driving ability
The professionals recommend that you always carefully consider the abilities of another party before lending them your vehicle for any reason.
What Should You Do If Someone Drives Your Car and Has an Accident?
If someone has an accident while driving your car in Indiana, we recommend that they contact the police right away. Police officers can come to the scene of the collision and file an official report.
An Indiana interstate accident lawyer can use the information in the police report when representing your claim. Your friend should also get contact information from the other driver and any witnesses to the collision.
Additionally, your friend and any passengers hurt in the collision should seek treatment for their injuries. Getting prompt medical care helps demonstrate that the injuries came from the crash, which can assist your lawyer.
Can a Lawyer Help If Someone Else Had an Accident in Your Car?
You can contact a lawyer after any kind of accident in Indiana, including a collision that occurred while someone else was operating your vehicle. Generally, the individual driving the car may hire a lawyer to represent their needs.
However, you can speak to an attorney about your options with a risk-free consultation. The law firm may advise you about your next steps, helping you feel more confident about your legal situation following a collision.
Tens of thousands of people sustain injuries in car accidents every year in Indiana. You can turn to a law firm for help if you or a friend get hurt. Work with a lawyer quickly to resolve the issue before the statute of limitations runs out.
Speak to Us If Someone Had an Accident Driving Your Car
You can turn to our team at Vaughan & Vaughan if someone else was driving your car and had an accident caused by someone else. A car accident attorney from our firm can answer your questions and help you navigate the legal challenges associated with this kind of accident.
Find out more by calling or completing our online contact form.
