QUESTION

If someone else is driving your car and gets a DUI, how does it affect you?

Asked on Dec 20th, 2012 on DUI/DWI - Michigan
More details to this question:
As a family, we've really only got two cars to use, my husbandโ€™s car and my car. Usually, I'll just let my son take my car because my husband doesn't trust our son to drive his. We've been meaning to get him a car for a while. Well he was out with friends and ended up getting a DUI while driving my car. What is going to happen? Is this something that happens often?
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6 ANSWERS

Criminal Defense Attorney serving Alhambra, CA at Francis John Cowhig
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Your son's DUI should not affect either you or husband. However, if your insurance carrier becomes aware that your son received or was convicted of a DUI and he is listed as a driver of your car, your insurance rates could increase or you could be dropped by your insurance carrier. Your son will have to deal with his DUI and all the consequences that come with it, including license suspensions.
Answered on Dec 23rd, 2012 at 7:34 PM

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Michael J. Breczinski
Well your insurance rates are going to go up unless he moves out of the house. He needs to get a good lawyer.
Answered on Dec 23rd, 2012 at 7:30 PM

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It does happen fairly often. Generally the liability for the offense falls on the driver, not the owner. If he caused any injury or damage to property as a result of his drunk driving, then your insurance company should be involved. If on the other hand you let him drive with any knowledge that he was likely to get drunk and drive, and if he is underage, you may have some liability. Perhaps your husband has a good point in not permitting your son to drive his car, You might want to do the same, or get a no-alcohol-if-driving pledge from your son, and if he is young enough, ground him from driving for enough time for him to feel the loss. Good luck.
Answered on Dec 23rd, 2012 at 6:52 PM

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Yes. The car gets impounded.
Answered on Dec 23rd, 2012 at 6:40 PM

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This will impact the cost of your insurance, but otherwise you will be unaffected.
Answered on Dec 21st, 2012 at 1:12 PM

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Appellate Attorney serving Grosse Pointe Farms, MI at Musilli Brennan Associates, PLLC
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Yes, this happens commonly. Your son will be charged, should hire an attorney and attempt to mitigate his damages. As for you, your insurance will either be cancelled, increase in cost exponentially, or your son will be excluded from coverage.
Answered on Dec 21st, 2012 at 1:07 PM

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