One of our first admonitions to clients seeking to become appointed personal representative of a decedent’s estate and is to secure all automobiles and not let anyone drive them.  Under Florida’s Dangerous Instrumentality Doctrine, the estate can be held vicariously liable if someone drives the car and injures others in an accident.  Once a person has been appointed personal representative and the probate case opened, the personal representative has personal responsibility for those automobiles.

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