Owner Liability for Vehicle Driven by Third Party

A claimant sought damages for injuries sustained in an accident involving a vehicle that was registered in their name but was being driven by another person at the time of the incident. The lower court had rejected the claim, finding the driver solely responsible. The Supreme Court overturned this decision, reasoning that the owner of a registered vehicle remains legally responsible for damages caused by that vehicle, even when driven by a third party, unless the owner proves that the vehicle was stolen or the driver was acting without any authorization related to the owner's control, thus maintaining the presumption of liability based on custody of the instrument causing the damage.