What to Do if You Are in an Accident With a Rental Car

September 26, 2022 Steve Jones

Last updated on July 19th, 2024 at 03:11 am

Accidents involving rental cars can be stressful. Ideally, it can be helpful if you know how to handle an accident in a rental car. Of course, as a consumer, you expect to pay for renting the vehicle, but you should not be responsible for damage and accidents caused due to someone else fault. While some renters insurance companies will cover your losses, knowing what to do in this situation is essential.

Here are some tips on what to do if this unfortunate event happens.

Seek Medical Attention

You should seek medical attention after a car accident as soon as possible. Ensure you see a doctor immediately, no matter how minor the injury seems. It may take some time to realize your injuries’ seriousness. Visiting an emergency room will determine if you need further treatment or if you can go home after treatment.

Report the Accident to the Police

You must notify the police if you are in an accident with a rental car. Ensure you go to your local police station and file a report. Please provide them with your name and contact information and the other driver’s name and contact information.

It is also necessary to contact any witnesses and ask them to provide statements. To file a police report, you will also need an estimate from a repair shop for any damages done to your vehicle.

Take Photographs of the Accident Scene and Damages

Your insurance provider will use these photographs to reimburse the cost of repairs.

Ensure you take photos of the following:

The scene of the accident, including any damaged property

Any other vehicles involved (including license plate numbers)

Damages to your car and any other vehicles involved

Get the Other Driver’s Information

Upon reporting the incident, the investigating police officer will write a report that includes the other driver’s identity, license plate number, and the insurance company. You should still get this information yourself.

Unfortunately, accidents do happen from time to time, even when you’re not at fault. In this situation, knowing what steps to take to protect yourself is essential.

Find out the name and address of the other driver. You can find this on their driver’s license cards or vehicle registration card, which they may have left behind after an accident. You can ask a witness for this information if it is unavailable there.

Ask witnesses to provide you with their contact information if they were present with a rental car company vehicle during your accident. They can come forward later in legal proceedings related to your claim or lawsuit (if applicable).

When exchanging information with the other driver, get their contact information and any insurance information they have on hand. You should also take down any visible damage to your vehicle and anything else pertinent information about the accident that you can remember.

In case of injuries or damage beyond repair to your car, inform your rental agency ASAP so they can file any necessary claims with their insurance company.

Find Out Who Pays What in a Claim

If you have comprehensive insurance, your insurance company will pay for any damages exceeding $1,000. If you do not have comprehensive insurance, then it is up to the rental agency to repair or replace the vehicle—and they will get paid back by their insurance company if they need more money than they have in their loss-recovery fund.

If there is any damage to the rental vehicle and no one else was involved in the accident, then it might be possible for you to pay for all damages out of pocket (depending on how much damage there is). Nevertheless, if another party was involved in the accident, they may file a claim process.

Get a Copy of the Police Report

You will need to get a copy of the police report. It is necessary for several reasons:

You will need it to file an insurance claim. The rental car company will ask for this when you return their vehicle, so make sure you have it ready.

You will also need the police report to get a replacement rental car or repair your vehicle. It can take time and money if you don’t already have those documents on hand.

A person who causes an accident may become liable for injuries and damage incurred by others due to negligence (negligence means doing something wrong) when someone causes an accident with one’s rental car. One must show they weren’t negligent (for example, driving too fast), which can be proven by having all relevant documentation such as police reports and insurance claims.

Contact Your Rental Car Insurance Company

If you are in an accident with a rental car, contact your rental insurance company. If the damage is the person’s fault for renting the vehicle, their insurance will pay for the repairs. If it is not the renter’s fault, then they will be responsible for their deductible and any other fees associated with damages caused by their actions.

Contact the Rental Car Company

If you are in an accident with your rental car, contact the rental company immediately.

The first thing you should do is call your insurance company and report the accident. Once you take care of that, call the rental car company to report the accident and provide them with as much information as possible. The more information you can give them, such as the names of witnesses or police officers, the better. If possible, take pictures of the damage to both vehicles, and if possible, try to get a statement from any witnesses who may be willing to help.

If you find yourself in an accident with a rental car, the first thing you should do is contact the Agruss Law Firm in Chicago. It will help you determine what to do next and how to handle the situation. They can also help you get any information that may be necessary for your insurance company.

If your insurance company is going to cover your damages, they must know that there was an accident involving a rental car to ensure they get all the information they need from both parties involved.

If your insurance company doesn’t cover the cost of damages because it happened while driving a rental car, you can contact Agruss Law Firm in Chicago for help.

Handling Rental Car Accidents

If you have an accident with a rented vehicle, notify the rental company immediately. Having the name and number of the representative you informed is essential in case of discrepancies. Still, if a rental company representative gives you any statement of damage to a rental vehicle, get it put in writing.