A car accident is always a distressing experience even when it only results in minor property damage to a vehicle. If the accident causes injuries, it’s even more alarming. No car accident claim is easy, but when the vehicle you were driving in an accident was a rental car, there are often additional elements to the claim that can make it more challenging. Did you add the optional rental car accident insurance coverage? How does a claim work in a no-fault insurance state when an accident occurs in a rental car? Will your personal car insurance cover the damages to a rental car?
Navigating an accident claim after a rental car collision requires experienced Cherry Hill legal counsel for injuries and meticulous attention to detail.
How Are Rental Car Accidents Different?
Whenever you drive a rental car, the rental company expects you to return the car in the same condition in which you found it. This means you are responsible for restoring or replacing the damaged vehicle. How you do this depends on whether or not you chose to add the optional rental car insurance coverage when you rented the vehicle. Optional rental car accident coverage could include any or all of the following:
- Collision damage waiver, which releases the driver of any responsibility for covering damages to the rental car in an accident
- Liability coverage to cover property damage and injury cost to others if you are responsible for an accident
- Personal accident and personal effects coverage to cover injuries and damage to yourself and your personal property after an accident
If you did not choose to add the optional rental car insurance, you must file a claim against your own auto insurance policy according to the laws in no-fault car accident states like New Jersey. Whether or not your insurance will cover the damages depends on the terms of your policy. Some auto insurance policies do not cover damage to a rental car.
Who Is Liable in a Rental Car Collision?
Determining liability in a rental car accident is the same as in any car accident and depends on the specific circumstances of the accident. In most cases, a negligent driver is the party at fault in an accident, but may not bear liability in a no-fault insurance state unless the terms of your auto insurance policy allow a lawsuit.
If the accident was due to a defect or poor maintenance in the rental car, the rental car company may be liable for your damages.
How Can a Car Accident Attorney Help?
Car accident claims are challenging in no-fault insurance states despite the fact that these laws were intended to streamline and simplify the accident claim process. When a driver has an accident in a rental car without the optional insurance coverage, they may not have the ability to recover their damages, even if another driver was at fault for the accident unless they file a lawsuit.
After a car accident, hiring an experienced attorney is the best way to navigate a claim for compensation to ensure you receive the maximum compensation and the best possible outcome. When the accident involves a rental car, it’s especially important to have skilled legal counsel to examine the terms of all relevant insurance policies in the case and determine the best way forward.
The Cherry Hill auto accident attorneys at Cuneo & Leonetti understand the complexities of rental car accidents. We are ready to protect your rights and safeguard your best interests throughout the process of your accident claim.