Rental Car Crashes

If you have been either struck by a rental car or been a passenger in a rental car that is in an accident, you have a valid claim to make against the rental car company and the driver. There are some important points that you need to be aware of when making such a claim since rental car insurance policies differ from normal car insurance companies. In addition, you also need to be mindful of the time to bring your claim in court, assuming you’re unable to resolve your claim outside of court. Most states have a time period of two to three years from the date of injury to bring your case, which is called a statute of limitations.

IMPORTANT RENTAL CAR CRASH INFORMATION

After being in a car crash with a rental car, you likely have a lot of questions about how to make the appropriate claim against the at-fault driver. Crashes with rental cars are more common than with other vehicles simply because the driver of the rental car is often not familiar with the rental vehicle, and this unfamiliarity leads to accidents. The most common rental cars on the road today are:

• Hertz
• Budget
• Alamo
• Avis
• Sixt
• Thrifty
• Enterprise

If you have been injured by a car, truck, or SUV rented by one of those companies, or another company such as U-Haul, you are likely wondering what insurance company will cover your injuries. The kind of insurance that is offered by the rental car company is called supplemental car insurance. If the driver of the rental car elected to purchase insurance through the rental car company, then that insurance will cover the damages you have. If the driver of the rental car did not purchase insurance coverage through the rental car company, then the driver’s own insurance will cover the damages.

Be aware that there may instances when your medical bills, and overall damages, far exceed the available coverage of the driver if he or she chose not to purchase coverage through the rental car company. In this situation, then you might have to look to your own car insurance, which is known as UIM, or Uninsured Motorist Coverage, to cover your damages.

HOW THE JACKMAN LAW FIRM CAN HELP AFTER A RENTAL CAR CRASH

If you have been injured by a rental car, you might be overwhelmed with the medical providers you’re seeing and the bills you’re getting, along with having to negotiate with the rental car company’s insurance company, which is likely a commercial insurance company. If this is the case, it’s unlikely that you will be able to negotiate the best possible settlement on your own. The Jackman Law Firm offers free consultations. We can make sure you get the most possible money for your case, which includes money for your medical bills, pain and suffering, and damage to your car. We stand ready to help you if you need us.