He is probably liable for his own negligence. His automobile policy likely doesn't it. His renter's insurance may or may not cover it depending on the language of the policy and the particular facts. Your own automobile policy almost certainly covers it under either comprehensive or... View More

Following an accident in which a vehicle is totaled, the owner of the totaled vehicle is entitled to the fair market value (FMV) of the vehicle at the time of the crash. In other words, if your vehicle had a FMV of $5,000 at the time of the crash, $5,000 is all you can recover no matter the amount... View More

If you and your daughter were injured in a three-car accident and you weren’t at fault, the first thing you should focus on is getting the medical care you need. Even if you don’t have medical coverage in your current state, there are options available.

Here’s what you can do:... View More

The owner of the vehicle is liable for its use, up to $15k per person or $30k per accident (if multiple persons are injured). If you knew or should have known of your son's propensity to drive negligently, you could have your own liability for allowing him to drive the vehicle. However,... View More

I agree with Attorney Socci's analysis, but you have some other problems. You haven't said where he drank the beer, or whether the vehicle was moving (appears to have been drinking in vehicle b/c on dash cam video.) Virginia's vehicle code would probably prohibit drinking alcohol... View More

Good morning -- If this case goes to litigation, you will have to duty to turn over any dashcam video if the other side asks for it. On the other hand, you have no duty to voluntarily relinquish it since him drinking one beer does not appear to be an issue. I am assuming he was not charged with a... View More

An Illinois traffic ticket defense attorney should advise, but you await a response for over a week. The short answer in most places is that it shouldn't be considered reckless driving if it didn't involve speeding, a distraction, or other factors. In many instances, it would be failing... View More

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answered on Sep 15, 2024

That's a wild sequence of events. What you're describing could be charged criminally in a number of ways, including unauthorized use of a motor vehicle and destruction of property. It's a shame that there is apparently no dash camera footage of this incident as that would settle a... View More

Turn the papers over to your insurance carrier without further delay (make a copy for your own files). They should handle it. If they obtained a release from the claimant, the first thing your carrier will probably do is to see if that release disqualifies this subsequent claim. In either event,... View More

Since you no longer have an attorney, the focus is on any medical liens, which represent unpaid medical bills. Insurers typically settle these liens first to meet legal obligations, which may delay your settlement. You can negotiate the bills with medical providers before the settlement is... View More

A Colorado attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. It could depend on the amount of the lien and who is handling it. If the lien is assigned to an attorney, and a third-party administrator is involved, it could easily take several months - depending on the TPA and... View More

A Colorado criminal defense attorney should advise here, but your question remains open for almost two weeks. I recommend considering a consult with a criminal defense attorney. It's likely that your question was missed because it was overlooked under the "Car Accidents" category.... View More

A Kansas attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. There is no direct "quick fix" answer to your question of what you should do that would fit in a Q & A forum response. The short answer is that you should consider setting up a free initial consult with a... View More

A Missouri attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. Your reluctance to handle this through your own insurance is understandable if the other side was at fault. However, sometimes that could be a viable option - depending on the basis of (and legitimacy of) the other... View More

The decision to press charges lies with the police and prosecutor, who review the evidence to determine if charges should be filed. If the police decline, you can file a complaint directly with the prosecutor. For restraining orders, you usually need to file a petition in court, unless the police... View More

This statute (O.C.G. A. § 33-24-41.1) addressed instances when there are two insurance policies which apply to the same claim. It allows for a claimant (i.e., the injured person who is asserting the claim) to recover the policy limits from the primary policy and then pursue a second policy. The... View More

An Arkansas attorney could advise best, but your question remains open for a week. Until you have the chance to consult with a local attorney, a title is usually used to prove ownership. You could find out from your DMV how long it takes to get a duplicate title. If your vehicle is declared a total... View More

Indemnification clauses (also known as hold harmless agreements) are standard in every release signed by a personal injury claimant. In fact, it would be shocking if the insurance company failed to include such a clause in the release.

In terms of of the court action, I assume you are... View More

You've probably placed your insurance carrier on notice already. This enables them to anticipate any future claims for property damage or bodily injury. Based on the circumstances, the average person would probably find your actions justified, since they were based on reasonable fear and not... View More

How lucky an officer was nearby! I would still file an accident report for insurance purposes. I would also let your insurance know what you indicated here: that you were in fear for your safety and drove away from an unsafe situation. They can determine culpability for the damages. You may also... View More