If you are involved in an accident while driving a rental car, it is essential to know what to do. Many of the steps you should take are the same as if you had been driving your vehicle. However, there is an added layer of complexity when the car is a rental.
If you have been injured in a rental car accident caused by another party, you may be entitled to recover compensation for your damages. Car rental accidents can be complex, and insurance companies will work to avoid or limit their liability so they can settle your claim for as little as possible. You need the assistance of an experienced Florida car accident lawyer to protect your rights and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
At Rosen Injury Law, our Fort Lauderdale car accident attorneys have been helping injury victims recover maximum compensation for nearly 20 years. Let us help you. Call (954) 787-1500 or complete the short form on our contact page to schedule a free consultation.
First Steps To Take After a Rental Car Accident
If you are involved in a rental car accident, taking the following steps afterward can help protect your physical and financial well-being:
- Check yourself and others for injuries and call 911 for emergency medical assistance.
- If you do not call 911, contact your local police to report the accident. You will need to obtain a copy of the police report when it becomes available.
- Exchange information with all drivers involved, including names, addresses, phone numbers, email addresses, insurance company and policy numbers, driver’s license numbers, vehicle registration, and the license plate numbers for all vehicles.
- Obtain contact information for any eyewitnesses to the accident.
- Take photographs and video footage of the accident scene, including the involved vehicles, any visible injuries, traffic signs, the road’s condition, and anything else that seems relevant to the accident.
- Tell the responding officer what happened. But do not admit fault or apologize to anyone for the accident.
- If you are not taken to the hospital by ambulance, you should have a thorough medical examination immediately following the accident. Some life-threatening injuries, or those that may result in long-term chronic pain and disability, are not immediately apparent.
- Speak to a professional Fort Lauderdale personal injury attorney.
Next Steps After a Rental Car Accident
Once you are safe and have handled the immediate first steps, you will need to take additional actions, including:
- Contact the rental car company and notify them of the accident. The paperwork provided by the rental car agency usually has an emergency contact number. They may need you to complete an incident report detailing the facts of your accident. Determine what level of rental car insurance coverage you may have.
- Contact your insurance company if you are relying on your insurance policy to provide coverage for the accident. Ask them how they wish to proceed.
- You need to understand what insurance coverage provides primary and secondary coverage. Ask each insurance company to explain exactly what they will pay for.
- If you used a credit card to pay for your car rental, check to see if it provides any coverage. Some credit card companies offer primary coverage when you use their card for your rental.
- Contact an experienced car accident lawyer to understand your options, protect your rights to the insurance coverage you are entitled to, and help you recover the compensation you deserve.
Contact Rosen Injury Law After A Rental Car Accident
If you were involved in an accident while driving a rental car, you may have questions about your rights and responsibilities. At Rosen Injury Law, our car accident lawyers can help you secure the full coverage you are entitled to. Call (954) 787-1500 or visit our contact page to schedule a free consultation to discuss your claim.