Legal Question in Civil Litigation in California
Driver Negligence
If a driver is negligent and gets in a car accident, is the non-driver OWNER of the vehicle liable?
Does it matter if the owner of the car is in the same family as the driver?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Driver Negligence
Yes, the owner is liable for a "permissive use" of the vehicle
up to a statutory amount of $15,000 per person, $30,000 total,
plus $5,000 property damage. If the entrustment of the vehicle
to the driver is deemed to be negligent (for example, allowing use by
an intoxicated person, or a person otherwise unfit to drive), then
the owner may be liable for all of the damages.
Re: Driver Negligence
In addition, if the car was insured by the owner, the insurance company is still required to pay for the damages up to the policy limits. If the car was not insured, but the driver was than his insurance company is required to pay the damages up to its policy limits. If there is no insurance that the owner is liable for the damages up the amounts specified by the first attorney's answer.
Good luck.
John Hayes
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