If you let a friend or a loved one borrow your car and they were involved in a crash, you might be wondering who will pay for the damage caused by the accident. After an accident, dealing with insurance companies can be complicated, especially if you weren't the person driving your own vehicle when the collision occurred. For such reason, our Houston car accident attorneys explain what you should know if your car was damaged after lending it to a loved one.

Will My Insurance Still Cover Damages?

People are often confused if their car insurance covers them as an individual or their vehicle. However, in Texas, the driver will always be held liable for any of the damages caused to their vehicle, even if they weren't driving when the collision occurred. For example, if you let your sibling borrow your car to go to the store, and their distracted driving habits caused an accident, you would still be the person liable for the accident.

However, there are a few situations when an owner will not be held liable for an accident that they did not cause. In such cases, the car owner would have to prove that they didn't give the other driver permission to borrow your vehicle. You also wouldn't be liable if the car were stolen when the accident occurred.

What If My Insurance Doesn't Cover It?

If you discover that your insurance doesn't completely cover the damages in the accident, the person who was driving may get their insurance to cover the remaining cost. If their insurance can't cover the remaining costs, then they will likely be required to pay for the damages with their own money.

If you are being held liable for an accident you didn't cause, you need an experienced attorney on your side to determine your options. Contact our Houston car accident lawyers today at (888) 273-1045 to schedule a case review!