Legal Question in Personal Injury in Wisconsin

Personal Liability

I have an 18 year old son living at home but will be attending college. I claim him as a dependent and he drives a vehichle registered to me. Question is: If he is involved in an accident am I liable for claims for injuries etc.? Would it be better to protect my assests if the vehichle was regestered in his name? Also any comments on adding an Umbrella liability policy?


Asked on 11/26/01, 10:46 am

2 Answers from Attorneys

Thomas Schober Schober Schober & Mitchell, S.C.

Re: Personal Liability

Wisconsin liability policies would consider a child

temporarily away at college as still living at home.

Such policies insure all family members living in

such home. Whether your policy limits are adequate

or not really go beyond a legal question. This

involves your decision as to how much risk you are

willing to take, what you've got to lose, and the

cost of the insurance. You should price umbrella

policies and determine whether you can afford such

coverage. Generally, people with assets to lose

will carry a minimum of 1-2 $million of coverage.

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Answered on 11/26/01, 2:01 pm
Michael End End, Hierseman & Crain, LLC

Re: Personal Liability

As a general rule, you would not have personal liability for any injury caused by the negligence of your adult son while driving the car. Your automobile liability insurance would apply to such a case. Buying an umbrella insurance policy might make sense, depending upon the limits of your liablility coverage and the extent of your personal assets. The premiums for such insurance are usually much less expensive than the premiums for the primary liability coverage.

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Answered on 11/26/01, 2:10 pm


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