My grandaughter took my car
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My grandaughter took my car
My unlicensed granddaughter and her friend took my uninsured car and hit other people. They did not have permission Her friend was driving. I filed a police report and signed a statement. I live with my ex husband as friends and my name is on nothing of his. House car etc. Will him or I be liable?
Asked on July 9, 2018 under Accident Law, Pennsylvania
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 6 years ago | Contributor
1) If he is not an owner of the car, there are no grounds to sue him; living with someone does not make you liable for any claims against them. Only a car's owner or its driver may be liable for an accident.
2) If you let your granddaughter drive, you would be liable if she were "at fault" in causing the accident (e.g. driving negligently or carelessly). But if she took the car without your permission--which means she stole it and you filed a police report for car theft, since taking someone's car without permission is stealing it--you would not be liable; a car's owner is not liable for the actions of a criminal who stole her car.
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