Hayward, CA asked in Car Accidents for California

Q: I drive friends car and have an accident. I later found out that his car did not have car insurance, what should I pay?

My friend asked me drive his car, I rear-ended and at fault. After accident he told me the car no insurance, what part of compensation do I need to pay? no one was injuried.

Related Topics:
2 Lawyer Answers
James L. Arrasmith
PREMIUM
James L. Arrasmith pro label Lawyers, want to be a Justia Connect Pro too? Learn more ›
Answered
  • Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Sacramento, CA
  • Licensed in California

A: In California, if you're driving a friend's car with their permission and you have an accident, you typically rely on the car owner's insurance to cover damages. However, since the car you were driving wasn't insured, the situation becomes more complex. Under state law, vehicle owners are required to maintain insurance coverage, so your friend violated this regulation.

As the driver at fault in an accident with an uninsured vehicle, you may be held responsible for paying for damages out of pocket, including repairs to both vehicles and any property damaged in the incident. Since there were no injuries, medical costs aren't a concern here, but the financial responsibility for the physical damages remains.

You should discuss the situation openly with your friend to determine how to address the damages. It might also be wise to consult with an attorney to understand all your legal obligations and rights in this situation. This can help you navigate any potential disputes or claims from the other party involved in the accident.

Tim Akpinar
Tim Akpinar
Answered
  • Personal Injury Lawyer
  • Little Neck, NY

A: I'm glad no one was injured in your accident. You could be requested to pay damages out of pocket. It could also depend on how the other driver handles the claim. If they go through their insurance, it could further depend on how the insurance would handle the claim after paying their policyholder (looking to you for reimbursement). It could depend on the amount of damages and the carrier. Good luck

Justia Ask a Lawyer is a forum for consumers to get answers to basic legal questions. Any information sent through Justia Ask a Lawyer is not secure and is done so on a non-confidential basis only.

The use of this website to ask questions or receive answers does not create an attorney–client relationship between you and Justia, or between you and any attorney who receives your information or responds to your questions, nor is it intended to create such a relationship. Additionally, no responses on this forum constitute legal advice, which must be tailored to the specific circumstances of each case. You should not act upon information provided in Justia Ask a Lawyer without seeking professional counsel from an attorney admitted or authorized to practice in your jurisdiction. Justia assumes no responsibility to any person who relies on information contained on or received through this site and disclaims all liability in respect to such information.

Justia cannot guarantee that the information on this website (including any legal information provided by an attorney through this service) is accurate, complete, or up-to-date. While we intend to make every attempt to keep the information on this site current, the owners of and contributors to this site make no claims, promises or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness or adequacy of the information contained in or linked to from this site.