Rental Car Accident
If you are liable for the accident or not, you will be responsible for the damages to a rental car. It is possible that the rental car company’s insurance and your personal insurance can work together to cover the injuries or damages. It is important to know what happens when you get in an accident involving a rental car so there are no surprises.
Rental Car Company Insurance
When you are renting a car, the company will almost always offer additional insurance that can give you more coverage if an accident occurs. The most common coverage options are a damage waiver, liability coverage, personal accident insurance, and personal effects coverage. It is imperative to know the different types of coverage so you are prepared for any situation.
Here are some more details on the different types of coverage:
Damage Waiver
With this type of coverage, the company will cover any vehicle replacement or repair costs if an incident occurs. This also includes waiving the replacement costs if the rental car is stolen. However, the costs will not be taken care of if they are a result of reckless driving or the driver was unauthorized to drive the vehicle.
Authorities do not consider this insurance, but it is available at an extra cost and can help ease a driver’s mind. Some insurance companies offer rental car coverage, which can serve the same purpose as the damage waiver. It is important to check with your insurance company before you rent a car to find out what coverage you qualify for. Even if you have coverage, it is possible you will have to pay a deductible and your insurance rate might increase if there is an accident.
Liability Coverage
This type of coverage pays for property damage and medical bills resulting from an accident that you have caused. This will almost always work with your personal insurance to keep you covered from damages. However, if you only have personal liability insurance, you will likely not be entirely covered by the expenses of an accident.
Personal Accident Insurance
This insurance will cover injuries of all occupants of the vehicle at the time of the accident, potential ambulance fees, or even death benefits. This type of personal insurance will also most likely overlap with the rental car company’s insurance. Like any other situation, there could be some additional expenses that are not covered by either of the insurance companies.
Personal Effects Coverage
This coverage will only help with your personal items that were lost or stolen when inside the rental vehicle. This can help you avoid filing a claim and having to pay a deductible.
Why this is important
It is important to know the ins and outs of rental car insurance because accidents happen and can lead to substantial damage. These situations can be more complex than regular accidents, so it is possible that an attorney might need to get involved. Working with larger rental car companies’ insurance can be impossible to navigate on your own. Make sure you are aware of your option if you have been involved in this type of accident.
The Accident Injury Legal Center can help you get in contact with an attorney that is qualified for your case. They can help you get the compensation you deserve.