Who’s Going to Pay for My Damaged Rental Car?

You’re on the road trip you’ve dreamed up for years. You’re cruising down the highway with the top down in the rental car you treated yourself to. Things are amazing – until they aren’t. You find yourself involved in a car accident and thankfully walk away relatively physically unscathed. Your thoughts immediately turn to the damaged rental car.

Did you decline the car insurance when you signed the rental contract? Will your own insurance company cover the damage? It’s not unusual for people to panic when they are involved in an accident while driving a rental.

Following the Accident

Because you are involved in an accident with a rental car doesn’t mean that the steps to take following the collision are different if you had been involved in an accident in your own personal vehicle. You should still make sure everyone involved is okay and you should still call emergency services. Your next call should be to the rental company. Many companies have a set of procedures to follow if one of their vehicles has been involved in an accident. Most will want you to file a police report.

Fault in the Accident

Liability is a very important part of determining who is responsible for repair or replacement of the rental car. If the other driver made an error and caused the accident, their insurance company may be responsible for paying for repairs to the rental. If you are considered to be at fault, you may be on the hook for the repairs.  Of course insurance coverage rules vary by state, so please make sure you speak to an attorney if you have questions about liability issues.

Drivers who are fully insured may have a liability rider attached to their policies. This means that the rental damage may be covered by your policy. If the other driver doesn’t have insurance and is found to be at fault, your uninsured motorist insurance coverage may pay for the repairs.

Rental Car Insurance

If you declined the rental coverage this time around, you may not want to make that mistake again. If you aren’t sure whether or not your own policy will cover injury or damages in accidents like these, the insurance being offered to you may be a good idea. It may cost you a bit more, but it can protect you in the long run.

If you are involved in a car accident in Charlotte and aren’t sure what type of coverage you have, reach out to our team of experienced attorneys. We can help you deal with the insurance companies, and we can help you seek damages from the at-fault driver. We have an in-depth knowledge of the local laws and can put that knowledge to work for you. Call today to schedule your free case evaluation.