If my car was used without my permission and was in an accident, am I liable?
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If my car was used without my permission and was in an accident, am I liable?
Asked on April 16, 2015 under Accident Law, Texas
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 9 years ago | Contributor
You're not liable IF by "without your permission" you mean "stolen" and you have filed or do file a police report for theft. Only if the car is truly taken without any permission--even retroactive--so that the act of taking it does constitute theft are you, as the owner, not potentially liable.
But if by "without permission" you mean only that the user did not ask you that time, but you do not consider it theft--and are not willing to report it as theft--then you would still be potentially liable.
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