Legal Question in Landlord & Tenant Law in California
Do I have to provide my tenant information to my car insurance company?
About a year ago, my tenant (roommate) drive his car from our parking drive way and head out to street (2 direction). The street view on the left and right side of the house got block by bushes height 4 feet tall like wood fence but shorter than wood fence. Suddenly a boy from neighbor drove his bike on the street saw the car come out from our house and he made a sudden break from his bike and fall on the street (not in our property) My tenant did not hit the boy yet (no impact here) The space between the boy and the head of the car about 3ft away. He broke his arm and went to hospital. They didn�t report any accident during that time. The mother of the boy now want my tenant to pay or share the hospital fees about $600. She came to my house and took the pictures of my car template and file a claim from my car insurance. She want my car insurance to cover for this amount of money. (Instead of my tenant car, she took pictures of my car. wrong car), I told my car insurance that I didn�t involve in this problem. That problem was caused by my tenant. My car insurance asked me to provide my tenant name and phone number. Do I have to provide my tenant information to my car insurance company? How does my neighbor know my name and my car company? Is this legal? My car insurance company told me that if I won�t give my tenant information, she (my neighbor) might sue me too. I don�t want my neighbor sue me and I want to protect my tenant.
Please advice. Thank you very much
Anthony T.
1 Answer from Attorneys
You have a legal obligation to cooperate in any claim filed with your insurance company. If you don't, they can cancel your insurance. Quit screwing around on the internet and cooperate to get your name cleared. The only think you are doing by hiding your tenant's identity is risk your own insurance and liability. They can get the information one way or another. So either cooperate or pay the claim, since they will either get your tenant for this or you.