Dear PAO,

I was involved in a vehicular accident. I was crossing an intersection when another car on the other side hit the left portion of my vehicle. The traffic enforcer told us that the driver of the other car was at fault for trying to beat the red light. However, I discovered that the driver recently bought the car from its original owner, and he told me that the car registration is still under the name of the previous owner. Can I sue the original owner of the vehicle for damages since it is still registered in his name?

Atom

Dear Atom,

In Erezo, et al. vs Jepte (GR L-9605, Sept. 30, 1957), the Supreme Court through Associate Justice Alejo Labrador stressed that the main aim of motor vehicle registration is to identify the owner so that if any accident happens, or that any damage or injury is caused by the vehicles on the public highways, responsibility therefore can be fixed on a definite individual, the registered owner. It is also stated in the said case that there are numerous instances "where vehicles running on public highways caused accidents or injuries to pedestrians or other vehicles without positive identification of the owner or drivers, or with very scant means of identification."

Premium + Digital Edition

Ad-free access


P 80 per month
(billed annually at P 960)
  • Unlimited ad-free access to website articles
  • Limited offer: Subscribe today and get digital edition access for free (accessible with up to 3 devices)

TRY FREE FOR 14 DAYS
See details
See details