When you hear the Horror stories of what happens when someone sells a car and forgets to furnish a Release of Liability or simply forgets to take it to the DMV Office, one assumes it is just a case of Urban Legends taken to extremes. Well, it is not.
I received a call last week from a concerned lady who had sold her car, and who had forgotten to issue a Release of Liability together with the Bill of Sale. Well, it happens that the vehicle she sold was stolen from the new owner the very next day she sold it.
If the theft of the automobile had been the only thing affecting our subject, perhaps it would not be too much of a problem. What indeed became a problem is the fact that after the car was stolen, it was used in the robberies of a liquor store and of a gas station. While utilizing that vehicle in those two robberies, the thieves ended up in a tragic vehicular accident, which may end up becoming vehicular manslaughter.
Now, up to what was told to me, the thieves have not been caught yet. Since the automobile was not "officially" transferred fully to the new owner, guess who is LIABLE for at least the damages originated from the accident?
I guess by now you know who the legally responsible individual is, for the damages which were caused with that vehicle. And thus, now that you know what may occur in some rather extreme circumstances, we urge you to please, do not procrastinate on this issue. It may not seem to be too important or imperative; however, it truly is.
Remember, a Release of Liability is a simple form which you can download from the internet and which you should file with your local DMV Office, immediately —once you have sold the vehicle. Do not wait for tomorrow or the next day. It may truly come back to bite you.
