[Kfuss]

Hi, I just got into an accident today in my friends car. I do not have insurance but my friends car does.I rear ended a woman in front of me. She has a history of back pain and was sent to the hospital. From the police report I was at fault. I was wondering if anyone could tell me what is going to happen next because I've never been in this situation before.

[ma0641]

First you will have to go to court for the ticket, you are responsible for that. The insurance goes with the car and, if you were allowed by the owner and policy, she should be covered for the loss. However, she will also be responsible, or her company will, if there is a law suit-back injury oops!

[Kfuss]

I only got a warning. The insurance is under my friends dad. My friend let me use it. If she does decide to sue, what actions should be taken?

[ma0641]

None on your part, let the insurance company know. Do not discuss it with the other party.

[Fr_Chuck]

First where is this at,
In the US, insurance is on the car, not for the person, so if the car had insurance most likely it was insured. Unless there is a clause not to insure others, The owner of the car, reports the accident to their insurance company, you will give her insurance a statement of what happened.

Most likely they will pay or if not, the other people sue you and the owner of the car

[Kfuss]

In WV. My friend is here for school and he lives in New Jersey. Idk if his coverage covers anyone driving it or just specific people on the car.

[Fr_Chuck]

Most insure an occasional driver.

[ebaines]

Just to add: in general most auto insurance policies will indeed cover anyone who lawfully borrows the car from the owner, so in this case if you had permission to drive the car your friend's dad's insurance should handle it. However, there is probably a deductible of perhaps $500 or $1000, which means the insurance company doesn't pay for the first $500 or $1000 of damage. So you should offer to reimburse your friend's dad the amount of the deductible on his policy to make him whole.

[Kfuss]

What would happen if the woman I hit decided to sue my friends family for letting me borrow it?

[ebaines]

What would happen if the woman I hit decided to sue my friends family for letting me borrow it?

It's possible, and if she did their insurance company would pay for defending them. But this should not be a worry unless she could argue that your friend was negligent in letting you drive. For example, she may have a case if you don't have a license, or your license is suspended, or if you were intoxicated at the time of the accident. I'd be more worried that she will sue you over her injuries, not your friend's family.

[smoothy]

And if her bills end up exceeding the insurance plan limit... a lawsuit for the balance.

And if they had a bare minimum policy... that can be more possible than you might think.