WA state personal injury law, car accident, liability of car owner, car sale pending

I am not sure of any criminal implications, however if you have not contacted your insurance company, do so immediately. Did you give the keys over to the prospective purchasor? Your policy may provide coverage for permissive users of your vehicle, even if that permission was implied.

I must be honest it appears you exercised extremely poor judgment by allowing someone to take possession of a vehicle without paying. Your question leaves out some critical information. You indicated "he never paid me for the car". How long had he had the car before the accident occurred? Did you provide permission before the payment issue arose? Was anything put in writing? The Department of Licensing has strict requirements for both sellers and buyers? If you did all the paperwork and he simply did not pay; then you have an argument that title passed when he took delivery and therefore you have no liability for what happened after he took possession of the vehicle. He waas required to provide insurance just as buyers are when they leave a car lot with a financed vehicle. I agree with other answers it does not appear there are criminal implications.

IT SEEMS LIKE WHAT YOU NEED NOW MORE THAN ANYTHING IS A GOOD PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR WHO MAY BE ABLE TO PROVIDE YOU WITH SOME TYPE ASSISTANCE. AS YOU KNOW "HIT AND RUN" IS A VERY SERIOUS OFFENSE IN WASHINGTON. FEEL FREE TO GIVE ME A CALL MAYBE I COULD STEER YOU IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION. SINCE THE CAR WAS IN YOUR NAME AT THE TIME OF THE ACCIDENT YOU MUST ESTABILSH YOUR STORY IS TRUE.



EVAN OSHAN
ATTORNEY AT LAW
P.O. BOX 861
MERCER ISLAND, WA 98040-0861
310 906 7137
OSHANLEGAL@GMAIL.COM

DISCLAIMER:
NOTE: SINCE I AM NOT YOUR ATTORNEY THE ABOVE SHOULD NOT BE RELIED UPON AND THE ATTORNEY CLIENT PRIVLEDGE DOES NOT YET EXIST.