someone got on an accident in my car and they didn't have a license , but i didnt know that and now i am being charged? has this happen to anyone and what haoppened
2007-10-04 12:14:16 · 4 answers · asked by tata 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
This is the WI law, you didn't say where you were from...
No person shall authorize or knowingly permit a motor vehicle owned by the person or under the person's control to be operated upon any highway in violation of this chapter or by a person who is not authorized under this chapter to operate a motor vehicle.
Knowledge needs to be proven here in order for a conviciton. It may be different in your state.
Loaning your vehicle to someone else is a tremendous responsibility, and you need to consider this carefully in the future. That is the intent of the law.
Your insurance will be responsible for the accident. If you don't have insurance, you could be sued.
2007-10-04 12:21:41 · answer #1 · answered by trooper3316 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, however, the logic is that, as the registered owner of the vehicle you are responsible. Depending on who you let borrow your car, a judge may have a hard time believing that you didn't know the persons license was suspended.
To make matters worse, your insurance will not cover the accident, since the driver wasn't on your policy and since they legally couldn't drive anyway.
I don't know why the person had their license suspended, but I imagine this accident is a pretty good indication of their driving record, and probably why their licensee is suspended. Hopefully, in the future you will be more careful.
2007-10-04 19:28:48 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I would have to assume that in most states you would have to have knowledge that the person had a suspended license to be criminally charged. However, when it comes to a civil suit, you are most definitely liable because you failed to verify that the person you were loaning your car to had a valid license, called negligence. While I don't believe you can be charged criminally, you are civilly liable for your negligent behavior.
2007-10-04 19:27:56 · answer #3 · answered by msi_cord 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
You just testify that you did not know they did not have a license, and you file a lawsuit against the person who failed to apprise you of the situation, which further demonstrates that you did not know.
2007-10-04 19:26:09 · answer #4 · answered by marconprograms 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋