What if Someone Else Drives My Car and Gets in an Accident?

If someone else drives your car and gets in an accident, your insurance may have to cover the costs of the collision. Generally, insurance follows the car, not the driver, in Washington. Therefore, you may hold financial responsibility, even if you aren’t in the car at the time of the crash. 

However, liability can vary based on the reasons for the accident and whether or not the driver had your permission to drive your vehicle. A Tacoma car accident lawyer can review the specifics of your situation and provide more exact information about what to expect if someone else drives and crashes your vehicle. 

What Happens if Someone Else Drives Your Car and Gets in an Accident?

If someone else drives your car and ends up in an accident, you can face a variety of consequences. The specifics of what you should expect will depend on several factors, including:

Who Caused the Accident

If the person driving your car caused the crash, you may find yourself liable for covering the other party’s losses. Generally, your insurance will kick in and cover the medical bills and property repair costs for the injury victim. 

However, if your insurance does not cover all of the costs, you may have to personally provide compensation. 

If someone else caused the accident, the at-fault party should have to cover the losses associated with the collision, including the costs of repairing your vehicle. 

How the Driver Got Your Car

If you freely give someone else your car, your insurance will typically have to cover the accident. However, if someone took your car without your permission, you should not hold liability for their actions, even if they cause a crash. 

Can Your Insurance Refuse to Cover the Accident?

Depending on the terms of your insurance policy, the company may refuse to cover some accidents that happen after you give someone else your vehicle. For example, your insurance may refuse to cover the crash if you lent the vehicle to:

• Someone without a valid license
• An underage driver
• An inexperienced driver
• Someone with a record of driving under the influence (DUI)
• Someone with certain medical conditions (like seizure disorders)

The specific terms of your policy will determine when and if the company needs to cover the costs of the accident. An attorney can provide more detailed information about reviewing the relevant documentation. 

Can You Face a Lawsuit if Someone Drives Your Car and Crashes It?

In some cases, the injured party could try to bring a lawsuit against you if someone else drives your car and causes a crash. For example, an injured motorist could try to bring a claim against you if your insurance coverage does not fully pay for their losses. 

However, you should not have to cover these expenses if someone else caused the crash. For example, if someone borrowed your vehicle and got into an accident caused by someone else, you should not hold any financial liability for the situation. 

A lawyer can assess your situation and investigate to determine liability for the crash. Your attorney can also give you answers to any questions you have about what happens if someone else drives your vehicle and gets in an accident. 

What Should You Do if Someone Gets in an Accident When Driving Your Car?

You need to take immediate action if someone gets in an accident while driving your vehicle. If you’re in the car at the time of the crash, you should:

• Call the police and report the crash
• Take pictures of the damage to the vehicles and any injuries you sustained
• Get contact information from everyone at the accident scene
• Write down everything you remember about the collision
• Call a personal injury lawyer for help

An attorney can immediately assess your situation and take steps to help if someone else caused the collision. A lawyer can also provide more information about what to do after a car accident. 

If you are not in the vehicle at the time of the crash, you should make sure the driver contacts the police. You should still call an attorney for help discussing your options and the steps you need to take to protect yourself from liability for a crash caused by someone else’s negligence or dangerous actions. 

The sooner you call a law firm for assistance, the faster you can get answers to the specific questions you have. 

Talk to Us if Someone Else Drives and Crashes Your Car

So, what happens if someone else drives your car and gets in an accident? The specifics about what you should expect will depend on several key factors, including who caused the crash, whether they live in your household, and whether the person took your car with permission. 

Our team at NextLaw can review your situation and explain exactly what you should expect. We can also help you seek compensation from the driver responsible for the crash, when necessary. We’re here to help, especially if you sustain injuries while riding as a passenger in your vehicle. 

If you’re injured in a car accident, Call Dan Next! We can take charge of your legal situation now.