Car accidents are at best, inconvenient and upsetting. At worst, they are painful and devastating. When a car accident occurs in a rental car, it adds another layer of distress and complexity as victims aren’t always certain about their rights and obligations or which insurance policy should cover damages like property damage to the vehicle, medical expenses, and lost wages.
After a rental car accident in New Haven, an accident victim shouldn’t navigate this complex type of claim without skilled legal counsel to guide them toward the best path forward.
How Common are Rental Car Accidents?
Many drivers shrug off the suggestion of adding the additional cost of rental car insurance to an already expensive form of transportation, but rental car accidents are more common than you might think. According to the Journal of Advanced Transportation, rental car collisions occur more often than crashes in privately owned vehicles. This is likely due to the driver’s unfamiliarity with the car and because most rental car drivers are navigating unfamiliar roadways during travel.
What Are the Insurance Options for a Rental Car?
Navigating a car accident claim after a rental car accident quickly becomes complex because multiple insurance policies could cover the damages. Insurers commonly dispute claims and point the finger at another company’s policy. Car rental companies typically offer optional insurance coverage that could include collision damage waiver policies, supplemental liability protection, and loss damage waivers as well as personal accident coverage. Depending on your selected options, you might not be responsible for damage to the rental vehicle and may have additional coverage for property damage to another car as well as medical coverage for injuries to others. Additionally, you could have coverage through the following:
Your personal auto insurance if it includes rental car coverage
Another driver’s insurance if they were the party at fault in the accident
Credit card insurance coverage if the card you used to pay the rental car fee includes this benefit
It takes meticulous attention to detail to examine all available policies to pursue compensation for property damage and personal injury after a rental car accident in New Haven or elsewhere throughout Connecticut.
What to Do After a Rental Car Accident in New Haven
After an accident, the top priority is always to apply reasonable aid and comfort to injury victims, but it’s important to know what to do to protect yourself and begin the path to financial recovery as well as physical and emotional healing. After a rental car accident, do the following:
Report the accident to your private auto insurance company
Take the contact information of the other driver
If another driver was at fault, use your phone’s camera to take photos of the accident scene and the damaged vehicles
Always go to the hospital after a car accident to undergo treatment for your injuries and ask for a full evaluation to catch any injuries with delayed symptoms.
Call a New Haven Car Accident Lawyer After a Rental Car Accident
No one should navigate a car accident claim without skilled legal representation, especially if the accident resulted in expensive damages. When an accident occurs in a rental car, it’s even more important to hire a car accident attorney in New Haven with years of experience with this type of claim. An experienced New Haven car accident attorney recognizes the potential pitfalls and knows how to maximize coverage and compensation. Reach out to Weber & Rubano today so we can evaluate your rental car accident case and take prompt action.