Legal Question in Personal Injury in Virginia

Virginia Tort Law

In the Beginning of June end of May some of my children's friends came over and wanted to ride and drive a go cart we owned. I called their mother and asked if that was ok with her and she said it was. One of her children took the go cart down the trash alley behind our house and hit the neighbors garage door and didn't inform me, his brother, or any of my children. He was riding it by himself. The next day the Waynesboro Police show up and ask if we owned a go cart, etc. After some research we found out that the child had hit the door and not told anyone. The Mother and I went to the neighbors house and they just wanted it fixed, which is understandable and the mother stated to the homeowner get an estimate and I will write you a check, we gave the home owner our numbers and I thought that was the end. Now the parents of the child want me to pay 1/2 of the repair costs as I owned the go cart. Since none of my children were on or privy to the accident and I had the parents permission for the child to operate the vehicle is there any legal responsibility for me to pay 1/2? If you think there is I will pay the 300 which is 1/2, but I feel their child did the damage on his own with their permission and I am not responsible


Asked on 8/22/07, 9:52 am

1 Answer from Attorneys
Michael Hendrickson Law Office Michael E. Hendrickson

Re: Virginia Tort Law

Unless you feel that you had some responsibility to excercise some sort of supervision over the go-cart riding children and for whatever reason failed to do so, then you should refuse to pay, and I know of no legal theory that now comes easily to mind that would suggest that you have any legal obligation to do otherwise under these particular circumstances.

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Answered on 8/23/07, 5:22 pm


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