Some accidents are caused by reckless driving on the part of someone who has borrowed a vehicle from a friend or family member. Others may occur when a person is driving a company vehicle for work, such as a passenger vehicle or a vehicle requiring a commercial driver’s license. In such cases, injured accident victims may pursue claims against the at-fault driver and the party who negligently entrusted the vehicle to the driver. Car accident claims against a vehicle owner proceed under a legal theory of negligent entrustment. An experienced car accident attorney can evaluate potential negligent entrustment claims you may have and help you pursue financial recovery from a vehicle owner or the insurance company.
What Is Negligent Entrustment Under Illinois Law?
In Illinois, a person may bear liability for negligent entrustment if they entrust or lend a potentially dangerous article to someone they know or should know would likely use it in a manner causing unreasonable risk of harm to others. With automobiles, negligent entrustment may occur when a vehicle owner lends their car to someone they know or should know poses an unreasonable risk of causing a motor vehicle accident. This risk may arise from factors such as the person’s lack of driving skill or alcohol/drug intoxication. Under a negligent entrustment claim, the vehicle owner can be held liable for a car accident caused by the negligent driver to whom they lent their vehicle.
What Do I Have to Prove to Win a Negligent Entrustment Claim After a Car Accident?
To recover compensation for a car accident in a negligent entrustment claim, you must prove that the vehicle’s owner provided or entrusted their vehicle to the driver at fault for the accident despite having a reasonable expectation that the driver might operate the vehicle in an unsafe manner. For example, you might prove the vehicle owner knew or should have known about the driver’s extensive history of car accidents or that the driver did not possess a driver’s license. You may also have a negligent entrustment claim when a vehicle owner provides their vehicle to someone they know or should know has consumed impairing quantities of alcohol or drugs.
How Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. Can Help with Your Negligent Entrustment Case
The legal team at Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. can help you pursue a negligent entrustment claim by:
- Investigating the circumstances surrounding the car crash to obtain evidence proving the vehicle owner’s knowledge of the at-fault driver’s risk for causing a crash
- Documenting your injuries and losses to determine fair compensation
- Filing your claims and handling communications or negotiations with insurance adjusters
- Taking your case to trial when litigation becomes necessary to demand the accountability and compensation you deserve
If you suspect you have a negligent entrustment claim, you need experienced legal counsel and advocacy to pursue your legal rights. Contact Salvi, Schostok & Pritchard P.C. today for a free, no-obligation consultation to learn how our firm guides accident victims through negligent entrustment cases to seek maximum financial recovery.
