What Happens When Your Car is Stolen and is Involved in a Crash?
Auto theft is a common problem in the United States. While theft decreased from 2023 to 2024 — from 1,020,729 to 850,708 vehicles stolen — the fact remains that a vehicle is stolen every 37 seconds on average.
Anyone of any age can steal a vehicle. Even young children without a license have been known to take vehicles on joyrides. This situation recently happened in Texas, when a 13-year-old stole a Toyota 4Runner and caused a three-vehicle accident on Interstate 10 in Vidor. Fortunately, there were no injuries reported. The juvenile was taken into custody by the Vidor Police
Hyundai and Kia cars tend to be the most stolen vehicles but any vehicle can be a victim of theft. If you discover your vehicle has been stolen, you need to act quickly so that police can try to recover it. Roughly 35% of stolen vehicles are recovered the same day they’re taken, and 45% are found within two days.
Promptly reporting the theft to law enforcement not only increases the chance of recovery but also creates an official record you’ll need for your insurance claim. You will provide information such as the make/model of the car, color, license plate number as well as the car’s VIN. Also, let the police know if there is a GPS system on the car. Be sure to also notify your insurance company right away and provide key details, such as the vehicle’s last known location, any evidence at the scene (like broken glass), and the estimated time of the theft. Insurers typically require a police report before processing a claim.
What if the Car is in a Crash?
If a stolen car is involved in a crash, the car owner is generally not held liable for the damages or injuries caused by the thief, as the owner did not give permission for the vehicle to be used. The thief, however, would be responsible for the damages and injuries. Although the thief is responsible for the losses due to their negligent behaviors, their insurer may deny coverage since the policyholder was involved in an illegal activity when the accident occurred. Obtaining compensation from the thief is also challenging because they usually flee the scene. Sometimes they are never caught.
It is possible for the vehicle owner to be held liable if they were considered negligent. An example would be leaving the vehicle running while unattended or leaving the keys inside it with the door unlocked.
In any case, it’s crucial to immediately report the theft to the police and your insurance company to avoid complications.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer
Having your vehicle stolen can be a devastating situation, especially when it is involved in an accident. You will likely come across issues such as liability and compensation.
A Houston car accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC can assist you with dealing with an accident claim caused by a stolen vehicle. Schedule a consultation today by filling out the online form or calling (281) 347-3247.
Sources:
12newsnow.com/article/traffic/wreck-involving-18-wheeler-two-other-eastbound-ih-10-vidor/502-45ce28b0-ba03-4295-a446-ee80ae9402d0
nicb.org/news/blog/how-report-stolen-vehicle
