Owner Liability in Hit-and-Run Cases vs. Guarantee Fund Compensation

A plaintiff, having sustained damages from a traffic accident caused by an unidentified driver who fled the scene, sued the owner of the vehicle, arguing that under the law, the owner of a vehicle is strictly liable for damages caused by that vehicle, even if the accident was caused by an unknown driver. The court held that while the owner of a vehicle is indeed liable for damages caused by their vehicle, the relevant statute provides that compensation for bodily injury caused by an unidentified vehicle must be sought from a special guarantee fund established for this purpose, and therefore, the owner of the vehicle cannot be held directly liable to the victim in such a case.