Purchasing a car from an owner can be an effective way to save money and purchase a car that you otherwise might not be able to afford. However, if you find your dream car being sold as a used car, make sure that it is not actually stolen. If the stolen car was reported stolen, you may have to struggle to prove your innocence.
Arrested By the Police
If your car was stolen, the police may run your car and discover that it was reported stolen. If so, you will need to speak with a felony attorney as soon as possible. You may be able to effectively dispute the circumstances of the arrest during your preliminary hearing.
Make sure to present any paperwork associated with the purchasing of your car so you can show that you believed you were purchasing the car legally. Then, you may be able to have your charges dropped.
Whether or not you will be charged with a crime might rest on whether you knew that the property was stolen in the first place. For example, if you were told that the car was stolen, you would be held responsible for the receipt of stolen property. Also, the prosecutor might argue that you should have known that the property was stolen. For example, if you are sold a car that is worth a lot of money for a tiny fraction of its value, the prosecutor might argue that you should have known it was stolen. Therefore, you'll need a felony lawyer to help you prove that this was not the case.
Obtaining Your Lost Property
Just because you have purchased a stolen vehicle, this doesn't mean that you cannot get your property back. The original owner of the car will get his car back. Also, if you purchased car insurance, you will likely not be able to file a claim for the stolen vehicle because you never owned it. However, you may still be able to sue the seller for your losses. However, you'll only be able to accomplish this if you can track the seller down.
When the Seller Reports the Car Stolen
Car owners are not allowed to sell their cars and then report that they are stolen. If this is the case, you may be able to also sue for defamation of title after you have cleared the case up with the help of a felony lawyer. Then, you will be able to sue the seller for the full value of the car.
For additional information, reach out to a local felony attorney.
