The personal injury cause of action known as negligent entrustment is most often seen in the context of motor vehicle accidents when the driver of a vehicle who caused an accident didn’t own that vehicle. Regardless of a driver’s carelessness and negligence, the owner of the vehicle can still be found liable for an accident victim’s injuries and damages under the law of negligent entrustment.
Negligent Entrustment in Kentucky
In Kentucky, negligent entrustment might be raised when the owner of a vehicle entrusts that vehicle to somebody else who he or she knows to be inexperienced, careless, reckless or is otherwise known to operate a motor vehicle under the influence of alcohol, drugs or a combination of the two. According to Kentucky Statute 186.590, “Every motor vehicle owner who causes or knowingly permits a minor under the age of eighteen (18) to drive the vehicle upon a highway, and any person who gives or furnishes a motor vehicle to the minor shall be jointly and severally liable with the minor for damage caused by the negligence of the minor in driving the vehicle.” The rationale behind this statute is simple common sense. The person who gives or furnishes a teen driver with a motor vehicle should know that teen drivers are far more likely to cause accidents than older and more experienced drivers.
Proving Negligent Entrustment
The law of negligent entrustment isn’t just limited to drivers under the age of 18 though. If a vehicle didn’t belong to driver who caused an accident, the following propositions can be proved in order to prove negligent entrustment and have the owner of a vehicle held liable for injuries:
- The person who the vehicle was entrusted to was an inexperienced driver, incompetent, reckless or otherwise unfit to drive.
- The owner of the vehicle knew or should have known of the driver’s inability to safely operate a vehicle.
- The owner of the vehicle clearly gave explicit permission to the driver to use the vehicle.
- The driver’s ability to use the vehicle put others on or about the roadway at risk of injury or death.
- The injuries and damage of the accident victim were caused by the negligence of both the driver and the owner of the vehicle.
If you were injured in a motor vehicle collision anywhere in Kentucky as a result of what you believe to have involved negligent entrustment, contact us here at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC, and we’ll arrange for a free consultation with an experienced and assertive car accident lawyer from our law firm. You can tell us about what happened, and your questions will be answered too. After that, we can discuss your full range of legal options. Indeed, you can hire a top-tier law firm to represent you in pursuing your accident claim. That’s because we don’t get paid unless we obtain a settlement or verdict on your behalf.
Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer in Kentucky
Do you have more questions about negligence? Speak to a member of legal team today to learn more about our state’s accident laws. If you or a loved one have been injured due to someone else’s negligence, do not wait another minute, call us right now at Kaufman & Stigger, PLLC at (502) 458-5555 to discuss your case and get the help you deserve.
