What to Do When Your Vehicle is Stolen

Car theft has become common, especially in Texas. Texas is second only to California in regards to the number of auto thefts. Car theft is not limited to just stealing a motor vehicle. It may also include break ins, vandalism, stolen parts, and stolen personal items from inside the vehicle.

Stealing a vehicle is a felony crime that comes with significant penalties. Having a vehicle stolen comes with a lot of inconvenience for the vehicle owner as well. Being without a vehicle can be stressful. Plus, you don’t know if you’ll ever get your vehicle back. What happens if the thief gets into an accident with your car?

After a car theft, you will need to know the next steps so you have a better chance of getting your vehicle back. Here’s what you need to do.

File a Police Report

Are you sure your vehicle was stolen? Did you misplace it? Was it towed or repossessed? If these are not possibilities, then you need to call the police and file a report. You will be asked about the stolen car’s year, make and model, VIN, license plate number, and color. The more information you provide, the higher the likelihood of recovery. Statistics show that 45% of stolen vehicles are located within two days.

Contact Your Insurance Company

Contact your auto insurance company and inform your agent of the details of the police report. They can determine which insurance coverage to use and what steps to take to repay you for your loss. This will depend on whether the vehicle needs to be repaired or replaced.

Contact Your Auto Lender

If you had a loan or lease on your stolen car, you must contact the lender to let them know, since they are technically the rightful owner of the stolen vehicle. They will work with your insurance company to resolve the issue.

Will I Be Liable for an Accident?

In Texas, car owners are usually not liable for damages caused by a stolen vehicle. This is because they didn’t give permission for the person to use the vehicle. However, there are some exceptions:

• If the theft was foreseeable. If you knew that vehicle theft was reasonably foreseeable, then you may be held responsible to third parties.
• If the owner was negligent. If you negligently entrusted the car to another driver, you could be held liable for damages

Contact a Personal Injury Lawyer

Knowing that your vehicle has been stolen can be a stressful ordeal. Make sure to get the police and your insurance company involved so your car can be recovered.

If you or your vehicle was involved in a crash, seek legal help from a Houston car accident attorney from The West Law Office, PLLC. We’ll help you get full recovery. Contact us right away to ensure you don’t miss important deadlines. Fill out the online form or call 281-347-3247 to schedule a consultation.

Source:

caranddriver.com/car-insurance/a36433200/does-liability-insurance-cover-theft/