Going Crazy

[nikkiax]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? RI

This is a post I also have in another forum, but it's a separate issue (over ownership) while this issue regards insurance and liability.

I had a truck. I agreed to sell it to my sisiter for $700.00. She said she would pay for it when her income tax came in. I told her that was fine, and to just transfer the registration into her name because I had just renewed it about a month ago.

Meanwhile, I registered my new car (could not transfer registration, truck was commercial) dropped the truck fom my insurance and assumed all was well.

It's not. She totaled the truck (rear ended another driver) and never registered or insured it. She also lied about having a valid license.

Today I found out she presented the cop at the accident with my insurance card (insurance company called me). When I called her, she told me "You knew I was going to." Which is a complete lie, and my father is telling me not to tell anyone she knew it was uninsured!

What am I supposed to do? I know nothing about the accident beyond what my sister and my father (who drove over to the accident site to help her) have told me.

Do I need a lawyer? The car was still registered to me, and now they all want me to lie and say she didn't know it was uninsured. Advice, please, I am going nuts.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ecmst12]

You never should have taken it off the insurance until you had transferred the title AND registration out of your name, and had your sister show you proof that she had insured it in her name. Now you are on the hook. Good luck.

 

[nikkiax]

Great. I figured as much.

Just to clarify, it makes no difference what my itentions were, correct? Law is black and white, and the truck was registered to me.

About the insurance - I already told my agent the situation when she called. Do you know what will happen next? The guy she hit, his insurance company will probably sue me, right? If I wind up shelling out for this, is she liable to pay me back? Do you have any advice then?

One last thing - she paid me the $700.00 for the truck. Does that make a difference?

Thanks, I'm sorry, I just can't concentrate on anything but this right now. I'm a mess.

 

[Antigone*]

Great. I figured as much.

Just to clarify, it makes no difference what my itentions were, correct? Law is black and white, and the truck was registered to me.

About the insurance - I already told my agent the situation when she called. Do you know what will happen next? The guy she hit, his insurance company will probably sue me, right? If I wind up shelling out for this, is she liable to pay me back? Do you have any advice then?

One last thing - she paid me the $700.00 for the truck. Does that make a difference?

Thanks, I'm sorry, I just can't concentrate on anything but this right now. I'm a mess.

Your intentions are meaningless. You are legally responsible for whatever happens with this vehicle.

 

[nikkiax]

Great. Thank you for the info. I'm never trying to be the nice guy again. From now on I'm only doing things for myself, family or not.

Thanks again.

 

[Antigone*]

Great. Thank you for the info. I'm never trying to be the nice guy again. From now on I'm only doing things for myself, family or not.

Thanks again.

I know it is hard but take this as a lesson learned. Do things the right way or don't do them at all.

 

[nikkiax]

Lesson learned. You make a damn good point. A bitter pill to swallow, and an expensive mistake.

Just two more questions and I'll go away. I appreciate your time.
I will get sued, right? Do you think I should try to contact someone or just sit and wait it out? By that I mean should I contact the guy she hit or his insurance company.

 

[ecmst12]

There is nothing wrong with doing nice things for family, but you have to protect yourself while doing it. My DH recently gave an old van he wasn't using to his uncle, and I made sure he didn't take it off of our insurance until they actually went to the tag place to transfer the title and he actually saw the proof of insurance in uncle's name. Until uncle scraped up the money to insure it, it stayed on our policy, 'just in case'.