North Vernon, IN asked in Criminal Law and DUI / DWI for Indiana

Q: Can u file charges on someone that u let borrow your car for an hour but they never brought it back.

My friend borrowed my car for an hour at 7:30. At 8:59 they called & said they were bringing it back. They never came. I messaged them on Facebook at 1:30. At 6 am I started calling the numbers in my phone where they had used it. No-one had seen them. My friend took me around to places they usually go. I found my car at the address of the first person I called. My car had been wrecked. Passenger side fender dented & headlight busted. My friend hid in the house so I dont know what they hit or where it happened. I took my car home. It was trashed so while cleaning I found a whiskey flask under the drivers seat & some spilled in the floorboard. Is there anything I can do about them keeping my car, drinking & driving, & wrecking it?

Related Topics:
2 Lawyer Answers

A: Yes! In Indiana, Theft is defined as knowingly or intentionally exerting unauthorized control over property of another with intent to deprive the owner of the value or use of that property. You should immediately contact the police and file a report with them, and you should share all of the information you have with the police. Ideally, you should have called police as soon as you found your car. Because you did not, it is possible that you have exposed yourself to being a suspect in causing whatever accident your "friend" had! You should probably get "lawyered up" before you go to the police!

Andrew L. Bennett
PREMIUM
Answered

A: You should have called the police immediately, there possibly was other charges that could be filed. The State brings the charges so ultimately it is the prosecutors decision; but that should not keep you from trying.

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.