Q: I am a minor, me and my father are being sued for money from a car accident I was deemed at fault for. What will happen?
I do not have a job currently. My father however has money. He did not authorize me to drive when I got into the car accident. The car is mine but in his name since I am a minor. The woman filed a claim with our insurance but was denied. So now she is coming after me and my dad. If she were to win she wants $40,000. Would my dad have to pay that even if he forbid me to drive on my own and I took the car while he was at work? I only had my permit and was alone.
A:
A Wisconsin attorney could answer your question best, but your post remains open for four weeks. There is a lot to sort out here, and it would be difficult to predict what would happen at this point. You probably have by now, but if not, you and your father should arrange a consult with a Wisconsin attorney. There are a number of issues to discuss - the vehicle's registration, your driving with a learner's permit, the wording and basis of the carriers' denial, the policy terms, police report, whether there were injuries (I hope everyone is okay and that there were no injuries), etc. Move quickly. It looks like it isn't in suit and if you and your father don't take a proactive role, the matter could find its way into suit relatively quickly. I suggest that you stop posting about your matter on public forums. If you retain an attorney, the out-of-court statements you make from this point onward could be raised at a deposition or at trial, if it gets to that, and they could be used against you and undermine your attorney's efforts. I hope you and your father are able to resolve the matter without it going that far. In summary, move quickly and contact a Wisconsin attorney for a consult to assess the situation if you have not already done so. Good luck
Tim Akpinar
A:
I'm sorry; I moment ago, I said it looks like the matter is not in suit. I apologize - you stated that you are being sued, and I should have caught that point in reading your post. My apologies. But same response applies - move quickly and consult with a Wisconsin attorney. Good luck
Tim Akpinar
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