Who is responsible in the scenario?

Question

A 21 year old has an insured and registered car under his/her name. His friend -lets call him bob- pays him 20 bucks to drive the car that night and he has his license so the friend lets him. Bob drives down to the bar and has one to many drinks then at 230 in the morning on the way home he passes out and swerves onto a sidewalk hitting and injuring a pedestrian.

Now I know it's the drunk drivers fault however my question is can responsiblity fall onto the vehicle owner in any way?

Answer 1

legal liability?  him.

financial liability?  you.    your insurance will have to pay, your insurance company will raise your rates.  you have to pay the deductible unless you can get it out of your friend... and the $20 is problematic... it may make you somewhat legally liable as well...

Answer 2

My thoughts on that are as follows, if the owner of the car knows that his friend is going to the bar then i think that the owner would be at  risk also, knowing that his buddy is drinking and driving with his vehicle and the owner could possibaly be liable for his friends actions. I don't know what the 20 bucks is for except for some sort of a rental fee.I would'nt loan my car out for a nite on the town to anyone.

Answer 3

Yes. The law looks at it that way. People should only let responsible people borrow their car.

Answer 4

The cars owner is 100% responsible and the drunk get arrested for DWI.

Answer 5

That's the reason you NEVER lend anyone your car. It's your car, and you are responsible.

Answer 6

Registered owner is always ultimately responsible for their vehicle.

Answer 7

yes all damages will come from your insurance and or your pocket, his fault you pay for it.

Answer 8

Since insurance goes with the car, not with the driver, if you give someone permission to drive you car you are also lending out your insurance policy.  Although Bob gets the tickets, your insurance pays for the costs to the hit pedestrian.  If it hits the limit of your policy, only then would they go after Bob for more.