Getting into any kind of car accident is frightening, but crashing a car that isn’t your own can be even scarier. A renter is supposed to return the car to the rental company in the same condition it was in when they drove it off the lot, so those who get in accidents may be worried about the cost of the damages. Filing insurance claims for a rental car accident can be quite complicated, especially if someone got injured. If you were injured, no matter who was driving the rental car, you may be able to file a claim against the rental car company or the other driver. Because Louisiana has a comparative negligence rule you may be entitled to compensation even if you are partially at fault. This is why you should call an experienced rental car accident attorney like our team at Bloom Legal right away before trying to settle with the insurance companies.
How Are Rental Car Accidents Covered?
People rent cars for a variety of reasons. You might be visiting New Orleans on vacation, or driving on a business trip. Many Uber and Lyft drivers also rent their work vehicles, which adds another layer of legal paperwork confusion. One of the things that can make rental car accidents confusing is the multiple lines of insurance, and the more people and companies involved, the more complicated it can be. Rental car accidents can be covered by the driver’s own insurance as well as by an optional supplemental insurance plan through the rental company. Many people don’t think that the rental car insurance is worth it, but the additional coverage can cover costs that your personal primary car insurance does not. Personal accident insurance is the rental company’s form of personal injury protection. Health insurance rarely covers all medical expenses in a rental car accident, and depending on the severity of the injury, your personal car insurance might not either. This offering from the rental company is not a bad add-on. Some credit cards offer either primary or secondary accident coverage for rental vehicles. If the car rental company offers a collision damage waiver, but your credit card offers primary coverage, you might have to decline the waiver for the credit card company’s coverage to apply. Credit cards usually do not offer liability coverage, however. No matter how many layers of insurance protection you may have if you try to settle with the insurance companies out-of-court you will likely be selling yourself short. This is why you also need the protection of a rental car accident attorney to get the compensation you deserve.
Always Negotiate With The Help Of A Lawyer
Always be smart when dealing with the law and insurance companies. Just like you wouldn’t say anything unwise or incriminating on the scene of the crash like “Oh no, I’m so sorry!” or anything that could be interpreted as admitting fault, it’s smartest to not negotiate with the insurance company until your attorney can help. Gather all photos and evidence you can at the scene and bring them to your lawyer. Here at Bloom Legal, we know how stressful accidents can be, especially while dealing with an injury. If you or a loved one has been in a rental car accident call us today at 504-599-9997 and let us fight for you!
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