Perhaps more upsetting than being in a car accident in the state of California is being in a rental car when the accident happens. It’s bad enough when you wreck your own property, but what do you do when the vehicle you crashed isn’t even yours? Can you be punished, even if the accident isn’t your fault?
While you’re dealing with injuries, checking on the safety of anyone else involved in the accident, and phoning the police, you’re probably also overwhelmed thinking about how your insurance will cover it and what happens with the rental car company. Let’s explore this situation further.
Rental Car Insurance
When you rented the car, and the rental company asked you if you wanted to take out extra rental insurance, you turned it down. You probably thought to yourself, why tack on an extra expense to cover a situation that, more than likely, will never happen?
Now you find yourself in that next-to-impossible situation, and you’re kicking yourself for not taking out that extra insurance. The good news is, all is not lost. You may actually have rental insurance coverage and not even know it. First, there may be a clause in your primary insurance policy that covers you in the event that you get into an accident in a rental car.
Another place to check is the company of the credit card that you used for the rental. Some cards have rental insurance as a perk for using their credit for the rental. In either case, if you need help understanding your policy to determine what is covered and what isn’t, don’t hesitate to give a Los Angeles car accident lawyer a call.
For a free legal consultation, call (626) 709-2523
Document the Accident
One of the most important steps you can take to protect yourself after getting in an accident while driving a rental car is to fully document everything about the situation. This is especially important if you do not have insurance coverage for the accident, as the rental company will be pursuing compensation from you directly.
If you were not at fault for the accident, you should not bear the responsibility of paying for it. The more evidence you gather immediately after the accident, the better your position will be when attempting to prove that the other driver was at fault, not you.
A few things you can do to help build your case include:
- Taking plenty of pictures
- Exchanging insurance information with all other drivers involved in the collision
- Taking note of any other factors that may have contributed to the crash
- Speaking with any witnesses and collecting their contact information
Some of this evidence can be difficult to gather after the fact. So as long as you are not too hurt to do so, it is critical that you take care of it in the immediate aftermath of your accident.
Speaking to Your Own Insurance Adjuster
What comes next after your accident is notifying your primary insurance company. Some people worry that telling their insurance company about an accident will increase their monthly premium, but this is not always the case. California is an at-fault state, which means that only the person who is responsible for the accident will be penalized – as it should be.
However, there are a few things you can, and should, ask your insurance adjuster, including:
- Whether you have a deductible
- How much that deductible is, and if you can get it back
- Whether your policy includes collision and comprehensive coverage
- How much coverage you have in the event of a rental accident
If you find it intimidating to talk to an insurance agent, a personal injury lawyer can help handle this part of the claims process for you. A lawyer should understand that communications with your insurance company are crucial to your case. You certainly shouldn’t avoid calling them because you are afraid of potential consequences.
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When You May Need a Lawyer
Suppose you were in one of the worst possible rental car accident situations:
- You don’t have rental car insurance as part of your primary insurance policy
- You didn’t buy extra rental car insurance when you signed up for the rental
- Your credit card doesn’t have rental car insurance as an added perk
Now what? Well, the rental car company will turn to you personally to pay for the damage. What if you weren’t at fault for the accident, though? How do you prove it? This is when you may need a lawyer who specializes in traffic accidents to step in. You should not have to shoulder the burden of the expenses involved in a car accident if the accident was not your fault.
A rental car accident lawyer can review the details of your case and request the proof necessary to show that you weren’t at fault and that the rental company should be focusing its efforts on the other driver in this situation.
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What If You Were Injured?
If you were injured in a rental car accident that was caused by another driver, the rental car company may not be the only one interested in pursuing damages against the at-fault driver. Injuries resulting from car accidents can be very serious and often come with expensive medical bills.
An experienced lawyer can help you recover damages from the liable party so that you can get the medical care you need without breaking the bank. Understanding the full value of an injury claim can be difficult as there are often many future expenses that you may not take into consideration.
Fortunately, a car accident attorney will be better equipped to calculate these costs and get you the money you need to cover them.
If You Have Been in an Accident in a Rental Car in California, We Can Help!
The last thing you need while you’re trying to “get away from it all” on vacation is to get into a car accident – especially while you’re in a rental car. Added to the stress of not being in your own car is the fact that you might even be in a different state when the accident happens.
Then, you have to not only deal with your accident and the fallout from it, but you also have to try to learn the law in the state you were visiting. Some vacation! Our team of lawyers is here to take that stress off of your shoulders. You can rest assured that a car accident lawyer is well versed in the laws that apply to traffic accidents in the state of California.
By hiring a lawyer, you don’t have to worry about learning how California laws apply to your case. We can handle all of that for you and hopefully help you enjoy what’s left of your vacation.
If you’re interested in speaking with one of the lawyers on our team, fill out our contact form or give us a call. We have helped many clients who were once in the same position as you get positive results. Don’t hesitate to contact us today to schedule a free, no-obligation case evaluation.
Call or text (626) 709-2523 or complete a Free Case Evaluation form