ABA Family Legal Guide

Automobiles

Accidents and Insurance

Accidents

Am I legally responsible even if I am not in the car if an accident occurs?

Possibly. You still might be liable for property damage, injuries, and even death if you permit someone else to operate your defective vehicle, or if you allow an inexperienced, habitually intoxicated, or otherwise incompetent person to drive your car. The law refers to this conduct as negligent entrustment.