You may be wondering who pays for financial compensation for injuries, property damage, or vehicle repairs if you were in an accident with a rental car driver. In this post, we will explain how rental vehicle companies operate, which insurance companies are involved in rental car accidents, and what you should do to file an injury claim to get compensation for any damages or injuries that you have sustained.
Rental cars and other vehicles are very popular in tourist areas. As with all vehicles, they can be involved in accidents. There are steps you can take to protect your rights and ensure your case is successful in any auto accident. These are the top tips:
Make A Police Report
Most states require that all motor car collisions be reported to law enforcement. An accident report provides evidence of what happened and who was involved. This information will prove invaluable later in an insurance claim, or when you are pursuing a personal injury case. Contact law enforcement immediately following a collision to protect your rights.
Collect Information From All Involved Parties
As law enforcement arrives on the scene of an accident, collect contact information and insurance information from all drivers involved. Be prepared to share this information with other drivers. This information is required to submit in court by all drivers. It also helps if you need to file an insurance claim. You should collect all information about the driver of your rental car, including:
- Full name of the driver
- Particularly if the driver's current address is not listed on their driver's license or insurance card
- Number of driver's license
- Name of the rental car company
- Name of the driver's insurer
- The number of the driver's insurance policy
- Contact information for the driver’s insurance company
The law enforcement officer should be notified if the driver of the car is not able to provide information about their vehicle insurance.
Check Out The Rental Agreement
Collisions involving rental cars can be complicated and all the insurance companies involved will likely try to avoid liability or make payments. It is important to fully understand the rental agreement between the driver and the rental car company. The driver is not required to have rental insurance. Instead, comprehensive collision coverage will likely cover any rental vehicles. Many drivers opt to forego any additional insurance that is offered by the rental car company to save money.
To file an insurance claim, or to sue for personal injury, you will need to understand the details of the rental agreement. You'll also need to know which car rental company is the owner and what coverage the rental driver has through their insurance company.
Hire Personal Injury Lawyers
It can be hard to navigate complex rental agreements and all the details, especially if you have been injured. A personal injuries attorney can help you to understand your legal options, and determine who is liable for financial damages. A local personal injury lawyer can help you determine if a personal injury lawsuit might be appropriate.
Check Your Auto Insurance Policy
While you are not liable for any damages caused by the other driver, bodily injuries could be covered by your injury protection policy (PIP). Most policies cover injuries sustained in an auto accident, but only up to a certain amount. You may be eligible to file a lawsuit against the insurance company, rental car company, their insurance, and/or the driver of the car.
Final Words
This article has discussed several crucial ideas that a person should take into account after being engaged in a vehicle accident to go beyond any legal restrictions and defend themselves. However, if you have any other idea for how a person might behave in this circumstance to reduce his side's culpability, you are welcome to offer them in a guest post on one of the well-known platforms for online publications.