Someone drove into a curb, and they want me to pay. Am I liable?

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Someone drove into a curb, and they want me to pay. Am I liable?

So I was driving my Uncle’s vehicle I was not
on his policy at the time and I pull out of a
gas station. I stopped the car, because I heard
a bang and thought that she hit me. She didn’t
hit me, though. She said that I pulled out in
front of her, causing her to hit the curb.

Why she just didn’t slow down, I’m not sure,
but come to find out we share insurance
companies. I tell them what happened, and a few
weeks later the woman asks me for payment,
saying she wasn’t covered at the time.

Seven months later, my uncle gets something in
the mail saying that we owe the insurance
company 800.

Any course of action, considering our vehicles
didn’t even collide.

Asked on April 15, 2019 under Accident Law, Missouri

Answers:

SJZ, Member, New York Bar / FreeAdvice Contributing Attorney

Answered 4 years ago | Contributor

If you were driving negligently or carelessly and in doing so caused or contributed to the accident, then you are liable, or responsible, for her damages or costs even if there was no actual collision. Physical contact between the cars is not required for liability. 
If you did carelessly pull in front of her without making sure it was clear and in so doing caused her to hit the curb, you would be liable. If you do not believe you were careless, you could refuse to pay and let the insurer sue; you and your uncle (as the vehicle owner) would only owe money if the insurer does in fact sue and can convince a court that how you drove was careless. 


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