If you have been in an accident in a rental car, there are certain procedures that you must follow to report it. You can still receive financial compensation if someone else was to blame for the accident. You may still need to deal with your own insurance company, depending on the circumstances. It is advisable to contact a lawyer after you have been injured in a rental car accident.
At the scene, you would call the police. Given the potential financial consequences, you need an accident report. Even though an accident report is not admissible in court, it could help the two insurance companies determine liability for the crash. Here is what typically is included in a police accident report:
- The time, date, and location of the accident.
- The conditions on the road at the time of the accident.
- The weather conditions.
- What the officer observed when they showed up to the scene.
- Any citation that the officer issued to a driver.
- Witnesses to the accident, their contact information, and what they observed.
- A diagram of the accident scene, including the location of the cars.
- Names of the injured parties and the extent of their injuries.
The officer may give you a copy of the report at the scene. If not, you should obtain it at the first possible opportunity.
Calling the Rental Car Company to Report the Accident
The first call that you should make is to the rental car company. They would require you to report the accident immediately. You should explain the situation to them. The rental car company would need to retrieve the car and provide you with a replacement if necessary. You would also give the rental car company the other driver’s contact and insurance information.
Report the Accident to Your Insurance Company
Next, you should contact your own insurance company to report the accident. Your policy would cover an accident that you had in the rental car. You would report the accident like you would any other crash. You would report the details of the accident to your insurance company, telling them exactly what happened. At the same time, you should also be careful about speaking with the other driver’s insurance company because they may look to find any way to cut their own liability.
If you purchased the additional insurance that the rental company offers, you should contact that insurance company to report the crash. Alternatively, you may contact your own credit card company, as some provide coverage for rental car accidents when you have paid on your card.
The same rules of negligence apply to a rental car accident. The insurance companies or a jury would determine who was at fault for the accident. If the other driver was negligent, they would need to pay for the full extent of your injuries. If you have had to pay anything to your rental car company, you may be reimbursed by the other driver’s insurance company if the other driver was to blame for the crash.
Virginia Beach Car Accident Lawyers at Anchor Legal Group, PLLC Help Clients Who Have Been Injured in Rental Car Accidents
If you have been injured in a rental car crash, our Virginia Beach car accident lawyers at Anchor Legal Group, PLLC can help. Call us at 757-LAW-0000 or complete our online form to schedule a free consultation. Based in Virginia Beach, we serve clients in Chesapeake, Norfolk, Suffolk, Portsmouth, Newport News, Hampton, and Eastern Shore, Virginia.