Automobile laws?

Question

Can someone sue you for more than he paid for his car..No insurance is involved. My brother was in an accident and was willing to pay the total amount the person bought the car for..$800.00 which was a deal. The car is worth approx. $2500.00, according to Kelly Blue Book. Again, can a person sue for more than they paid for the vehicle??

Answer 1

They can sue for the total value of the car, not what was paid for the car.

Answer 2

If I remember correctly, your brother can be held liable for either the value of the vehicle or the cost to repair it, whichever is cheaper. The reason being that the car may have been purchased for $800, but it could have been fixed up since, or it could have been sold to the person intentionally for less than it was worth by a friend or family member. It would be like an auto insurance policy covering only the purchase price rather than the value of the car (which they cannot legally do). He may also be held accountable for medical bills, which will generally be significantly higher than the cost of the car, if there were any. Sorry to give you the bad news.

Answer 3

The person can sue for more than they paid for the car. They can sue for replacement value, what the car will take to replace. Usually the KBB is used, but a judge will also factor in what kind of the condition the car was in previously. If it wasn't in great condition, the judge will deduct a percent from the KBB value.

Answer 4

Providing you can prove that he didn't put anymore
money in the car than the $800.00 and that the market
doesn't reveal a substantial increase in this car regarding
collectibility. He can only recover the 800.00 regarding
property damage. If he sustained other injuries such
doctor bills, medications , time off from work etc that is
another issue.

Answer 5

I guess he could, there is no law for what you can sue for. Whether you will get that amount or not is another matter.