When you get hurt in a rental car accident in any location of the country, it is essential to protect your injury rights to recover
maximum financial compensation by calling a trusted local auto wreck lawyer at 855-633-0888 who is on-call and available 24 hours daily to provide immediate legal help at no cost.
We will provide local free accident attorney advice for how liability is determined in rental car collisions in your jurisdiction, and how to file a rental car accident lawsuit claim to get financial compensation for any injuries or physical damage, and receive your settlement money in the fastest amount of time.
Being in an accident is bad enough, but it can get even more troublesome if the driver who hit you was driving in a rental car. We say confusing because the insurance situation could get quite muddy depending on what insurance the driver purchased from the rental car agency as well as what his or her personal insurance coverage is.
A Rental Car Hit Me… Now What?
If you are involved in an accident with someone driving a rental car, you may need to file a lawsuit to recover costs of repairs and/or physical injuries. First, make sure the local police are called to file a report on the accident. To protect your case, you need to ensure a formal police report has been filed. Next, either you or the responding officer need to gather the following information:
- Driver’s full name
- Driver’s home address
- Driver’s license number
- Rental car company name and location where vehicle was rented
- Driver’s insurance company contact information
- Plate information, make, model of rental car
In some rental car accidents, the driver may not have insurance carrier information, which is why it is imperative that you get accurate contact information regarding the driver of the rental car.
It may be refused, but if you can, try to get a picture of the rental contract of the driver to see if any insurance was purchased as well as proof the rental. This will help you and your attorney to understand what coverage was purchased and what your immediate options are.
Insurance Coverage
If the driver of the other vehicle has existing coverage over and above the rental agreement, know that his or her insurance follows the driver, not the vehicle. Point being, if he or she has personal auto insurance, you should be able to recover costs through his or her insurance company. That liability coverage will extend to any damages done while driving a rental car.
Some drivers will add additional insurance through the rental car agency. If he or she does not have personal insurance, it is highly likely that insurance was added at the time of the rental, which is why we recommend getting a snapshot of the rental agreement if possible.
The problem, however, is that when rental car insurance is the sole provider of coverage, that coverage is likely to be minimal. If the actual renter of the car was not driving at the time of the accident, it can become even cloudier, as the rental car company is unlikely to pay any claim when the individual who rented the vehicle is not behind the wheel at the time of the accident.
When the Other Driver Has No Coverage
There will, of course, be situations where the driver does not have personal insurance, did not get adequate coverage, or a different driver was behind the wheel, as mentioned above. In these cases, you will have to rely on your own insurance coverage. You will also more than likely want to file a personal injury lawsuit against the driver to recover costs as well as pain and suffering, especially in cases where injuries and/or severe damage to the vehicle occurred.
Do You Need a Personal Injury Attorney?
As you can see, these cases can get very confusing. With so many different options regarding insurance and the complications that can be added when someone other than the rental agreement holder is driving the vehicle at the time of the accident, this can quickly evolve into a legal hornet’s nest. For that reason, if you have been involved in an accident involving a rental car, you should immediately contact a personal injury attorney to review the case.
A skilled and experienced attorney will have navigated these waters many times and will know the best approach to ensure you recover every penny you have coming to you. The initial consultation is free of charge and you are under no obligation to use his or her legal services for discussing the case. Cases such as these are financed on a contingency basis, meaning the attorney only gets paid if he or she wins the case, so you are not at risk financially.
Get Started With Your Injury Case Now
To discuss your case with one of our skilled attorneys, please give us a call at 855-633-0888. Or, if you would prefer to learn more about our legal services before reaching out to discuss the case, please click here. Remember, you are under no obligation for simply consulting with an attorney, so do not waste a second to get some expert legal advice on your rental car accident settlement.
Taryn J. White is a legal research specialist and Injury law news reporter. Her current accomplishments include helping those facing any injuries from vehicle accidents, workplace accidents, and medical malpractice.
