Legal Question in Civil Litigation in Virginia
Running over golf clubs
Am I responsible if someone puts there golf clubs behind my car and did not tell me and I ran over them?
2 Answers from Attorneys
Re: Running over golf clubs
I cannot imagine how you could be responsible. This is what is called "assumption of the risk." The only possible grounds for your liability would be (1) an intentional act, intending to harm his golf clubs on purpose, or (2) negligence in which you should have known that his golf clubs were behind there. For example, if everyone was standing around and you were careless in backing up. Very fuzzy, and very unlikely. I think the lesson is don't put your golf clubs down just any old place and expect them to stay safe.
Re: Running over golf clubs
Liability would attach here, in my opinion, only in the event that the clubs were visible in either your rear view or side door mirrors and you negligently failed to check these before backing up.