If our car was parked in a parking garage at a university and the car next to us caught fire but our car was damaged as well, who is responsible for our car?
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If our car was parked in a parking garage at a university and the car next to us caught fire but our car was damaged as well, who is responsible for our car?
It was a possible arson.
Asked on January 14, 2019 under Accident Law, Florida
Answers:
SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney
Answered 5 years ago | Contributor
If someone else was AT FAULT in causing the fire through negligence or unreasonable carelessness (such as the other car's driver leaving a lit cigarette smoldering on a seat; or walking away from their car and not calling the fire department or roadside assistance when smoke was coming out from under the hood; etc.), then that person would be liable or responsible for the damage to your car. But another person (or a business--e.g. the university) is only responsible if they were at fault and you can prove it. So if you can't show, for example, that the other car's driver did something careless to cause or contribute to the fire--the car burst into flame through no fault of theirs--their are not responsible.
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