Rental Car Accidents

Rental Car Accidents

Rental Car Accidents

Driving a rental car gives consumers an opportunity to operate a vehicle that they may not have had an opportunity to before. Typically, the decision to rent a car is for another purpose but when renting the selection of the type of car provides an opportunity to experience something different behind the wheel.

In addition to being behind the wheel of a vehicle that they are less familiar with, drivers of rental cars are often operating in unfamiliar territory. Whether traveling for business or pleasure the added ingredient of having to learn your way around at the same time you are learning a new vehicle can create significant challenges that can result in automobile accidents.

Accidents Involving Rental Vehicles

It's not uncommon when you are in an accident with a rental vehicle to be dealing with very confusing circumstances. A rental vehicle is often registered in one state, owned by a company headquartered in another state and driven by a driver from a third state. Just capturing the information can be confusing much less knowing what to do with it.

Insurance coverage that may be responsible for covering the repairs and injuries is also a convoluted issue. If you are injured by a driver operating a rented car the liability likely belongs first to that driver and the insurance that covers your damages and injury is what that driver has in force. That insurance may be the driver's personal auto policy, coverage purchased through the rental agency or a combination of both. In cases where there are duplicate or overlapping coverages it is not uncommon for the involved insurance companies to take the stance that the other insurances are "primary." This can result in a delay and possibly denial of benefits that are needed for repairs, medical bills and other accident related costs.

What To Do After An Accident With A Rented Auto

Realizing that the issues are complex and confusing it is essential that you do a few things that will help get you the compensation you deserve:

Call the police Having a police report completed is something that each of the insurance companies involved will require. When the other party is responsible for the accident having a police report to document that fault is a key ingredient.

Get as much information as you can With the issues of ownership, rental and multiple insurances it may seem like a lot but get everything you can. At a minimum:

Name address and phone number of the driver of the other vehicle and any witnesses

Name and contact info for the rental company that owns the vehicle

The other driver's personal auto policy. Even if they state they purchased insurance through the rental company this may be the primary source of coverage.

Information on insurance coverage purchased through the rental agency or provided by a credit card company.

POST COMMENT

Cheap Ipad Opportunity To Avail The Technology At The Affordable Cost Powerful Car Gps Navigation For Bmw And Toyota Types Of Traffic Cones To Keep You Safe On Road Types Of Plastic Delineators To Keep Your Roads Safe When Deciding on a Garage Floor Coating, What Should I Look For? Salary Range For Engineers Lg Mobile Phones : Get The Beauty In Your Hands At Affordable Rates How To Stream Audio Files To Ipad With Mobileme? Should I Use Tile on My Garage Floor? Alaska Fishing Resorts Makes A Memorable Vacation All About Man and Van Services Vincent Van Gogh Sine Oljemalerier Og Hans Kunst Tips on how to purchase the best in car stereo for your Alfa Romeo