The Law and You: A friend borrowed my car and got into an accident – now what?

People allow their family members and mates travel their autos often. But number of consider of the legal repercussions should an accident come about and anyone is critically hurt.

If you personal a motor car in Ontario and another man or woman drives it with your consent, you are accountable for the repercussions of their carelessness. If they generate as a result of a halt indication and hit an additional vehicle, anyone hurt in the other automobile can sue both equally the driver and you (as proprietor) for their accidents. Or if another person borrows your automobile, receives drunk, and then runs in excess of a pedestrian, the pedestrian can sue both of those the driver and you for their accidents.

This process of vicarious legal responsibility has been section of Ontario’s Freeway Visitors Act for many years and is meant to protect harmless victims of car mishaps.

As an operator of a automobile you can shield yourself in two techniques. Initially, be very careful about who you lend your motor vehicle to. Next, and more importantly, make guaranteed you defend your self with ample vehicle insurance coverage.

Your insurance policies coverage will protect you for statements introduced against you as an owner, even if another person else is driving your auto. But if a person is catastrophically hurt and your coverage boundaries are also low to address their damages, your personal belongings will be at chance. It is really low cost to enhance your insurance policy restrict from $1,000,000 to $2,000,000. A five minute contact to your insurance plan broker could conserve you from losing your property if you or an individual driving your car is at fault in a really serious accident.

Oatley Vigmond signifies hurt individuals in their claims towards insurance policies firms. Oatley Vigmond can be attained at (705) 726-9021 or 1-888-662-2481.