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Learner Driver Car Damage

Question:

The other day I was teaching my sister how to drive. She mistakenly drove lightly into a car on the side of the road, and at first there were scratches on the other car. I wanted to see if the scratches were permanent but they washed away with a cloth and soap. Even after around 10 minutes the scratches did not return.

Firstly, is there any liability for damages even if they no longer remain. Secondly, am I as the passenger and teacher liable in anyway? Finally, what is the correct way of responding to this accident – do we attempt to find the owner of the other car and explain what happened, and attempt to remunerate them in some way.

Answer:

Answer from Horav Y. Fleishman Shlit”a

The Chazon Ish says one has to pay if either the value of the car goes down or people pay to fix the damage. From your description it seems that neither applies. If this is true you can forget about it.

Sources:

 

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