My brother stole my car and I don’t have Insurance, what do I do now?
My brother took my car while I was at a BBQ, He was slightly intoxicated and had his 8 year old daughter in the back seat, He ended up hitting a parked truck on the road, less than a half mile from my house. My whole right side of my car is gone, My mirror, antenna, side columns, head light, right side of my bumper, and my A frame of my SUV is broken, I couldn’t drive it as if i tried my right tire would of popped off. I had to get it towed. My SUV is a 2006 Jeep liberty. I don’t have insurance on it right now, although I had an insurance card before i got it canceled, which state’s I’m still covered until October 3rd. (which i showed the cop) My dad thinks that my car will just be totaled. I owe more than ,000 on this car. The truck he hit also has severe damage to the back left tail light and broken his A frame in the back as well. The cops were called and luckily the cop that came was really nice and waited for me to get to the scene. He cited my brother for failure to control and my brother got really lucky he didn’t get a ride to the police station. My brother just got a DUI less than 2 weeks ago. My dad said that the money for my car and the guy’s truck to be fixed is going to come out of my pocket. I am only 19 I do not want to be in debt, this was my first car. I’m pissed at my brother and he has decided he is not going to go to court and he’s going to run so it’s all going to be my responsibility since my brother is a dummy. What do I do? Do i call and get my insurance reinstated and hope they cover it or do i just pay it out of my pocket?
I didn’t have insurance on that car as I have not been driving it since i just moved back to Ohio from Arizona 3 months ago.
Honest answers PLEASE! I’m in over my head.
Is there any way the guy who owns the truck can sue me for the damages? Can I be held responsible?
My brother got a hold of the keys as I am home for the summer and live at my parents house where he also lives. **stupid me**
i didn’t have insurance on it cause i never drove it i have 2 cars!
7 Responses
HRH Princess Deb
04 Feb 2010
toshie
04 Feb 2010
talk to a lawyer…
pickmefirstplz
04 Feb 2010
have him arrested for stealing your car
mick-e M
04 Feb 2010
sue him for damages or just pay the $12000 which u really shud not do he drives with his daughter in the car as well as being pissed OMG if it was not u i don’t see y u shud pay i’d tell the police he’s thinking of doing a runner he shud not be allowed to get away with this..u weren’t driving i’m sorry ur dad and ur bro are being very unfair 2 u ..best thing to do is dump it on the person who caused it the police already know it was not u don’t matter if he run’s it still his responsibility not ..ur bro needs to be taught a lesson ur not in over ur head ur bro is as i said YOU DID NOTHING U DID NOTHING need i go on
mbrcatz
04 Feb 2010
If you didn’t file auto theft charges against your brother, then he didn’t steal it.
It’s too late to get insurance to cover this. You’re going to end up out of pocket.
Yes, the guy who owns the truck will be able to sue you – and your brother – for the damages. If he has insurance, his insurer WILL sue you, and you are responsible.
IF you don’t want debt, don’t borrow money to buy cars.
shjf47
04 Feb 2010
No matter what the insurance card says, you don’t have insurance coverage. The vehicle your brother hit is most likely insured. The owner will be compensated for the damage and or loss. That insurance company will subjugate against you for the money. You are out the money you owe on your vehicle. If you can’t pay the payments, the unpaid loan will be placed on your credit report along with your debt to the other insurance company. That insurance company can also approach the DMV and show that your vehicle was operated without insurance. The DMV could then put a hold on your drivers license until you pay off the insurance company. You should also check with the DMV to see if making a collision report with them is mandatory. If it is and the report is not made, the DMV will take your license. In CA. it is mandatory if the damage is over $700.00. I don’t understand why your father is laying the blame on you, but your only salvation could be to tell the police what really happened. No doubt it will alienate your father and your brother but it could help you with your money problems with the other insurance company. Nothing can help with the money you owe on the car loan. You violated the terms of the loan when you let the comp & collision coverage expire. You must realize that your brother could be arrested once you tell the police what happened.
Scott H
04 Feb 2010
You are still responsible for the outstanding amount of your loan, irregardless of what happens to the vehicle. As owner of the car, you are legally and financially responsible for it. Either press charges for auto theft against your brother, or accept responsibility for the damages he may have caused.
Insurance doesn’t seem like such a bad idea now, does it?
Even if you have the insurance reinstated, you’re still going to be liable for the charges. The insurance company isn’t going to cover an accident when you weren’t paying them for the policy. I wish I had better news for you. How did your brother get the keys? I’m guessing the only recourse you have is to sue your brother for the charges that you ARE going to be out. Looks like your brother didn’t learn anything from the DUI net even TWO weeks ago. He needs help. And to endanger his daughter’s life like that. Shame on him.
Personally, this is why I couldn’t sleep at night if I didn’t have full coverage on my auto…even if I didn’t drive it. I’ve had cars stolen out of my driveway at night. And even if I never drove it, if it got stolen, at the very least I would have been out the cost of the car without insurance.