What Happens If I Get Into a Car Accident While Driving a Rental Car?

The last thing anybody wants to worry about when they are operating a rental vehicle is that a collision may occur. Of course, we know that rental vehicle accidents occur all the time. Why wouldn’t they? Hazardous roadway conditions and negligent drivers do not go away just because we get into a rental vehicle. According to the Arizona Department of Transportation, there were nearly 130,000 total vehicle collisions across the state during the latest reporting year. Without a doubt, many of these accidents involved rental vehicles. Here, we want to discuss what happens if you get into an accident while driving a rental car in Mesa or the surrounding areas.

What To Do If You Have an Accident in a Rental Car?

Insurance Coverage Options for Rentals

Did you know that if you rent a vehicle, you are contractually obligated to return the vehicle in the same condition that it was in when you rented it? This obligation includes any damage caused by your own negligence or the negligence of another driver.

If you get into an accident while operating a rental vehicle, there are three primary sources of insurance coverage for the rental: insurance coverage through the rental company, your personal auto insurance, and insurance through your personal credit card.

1.      The rental company insurance

Anytime you rent a vehicle, the customer service representative will always ask you if you want to purchase additional insurance coverage. There are various types of optional insurance is that you can purchase through the rental company, including the following:

• Collision damage waiver. This insurance coverage is known as a damage waiver or loss damage waiver, and means that the rental car company will waive any replacement or repair costs in the event a collision occurs while you are renting the vehicle.
• Liability coverage. This type of coverage pays for property damage in medical expenses that others incur in the car accident while you are driving the rental vehicle.
• Personal accident insurance. This insurance will pay for the injuries to the rental car driver and any passengers in an accident involving the rental vehicle.
• Personal effects coverage. This is designed to cover the cost of any lost or damaged personal property inside the rental vehicle when an accident occurred.

2.      Your personal auto insurance

If you already own and operate a vehicle on a regular basis, you likely have personal auto insurance. Most auto insurance policies will provide the coverages that the rental car company offers, thus making the rental insurance offerings superfluous. If you do choose not to purchase any insurance with the rental company, you would likely need to prove that you have your own auto insurance policy.

3.      Credit card insurance

Every rental car company requires a person to use a credit card to rent the vehicle. When you rent a vehicle using a major credit card, this usually means that you will automatically have rental car insurance. If you are going to be renting a vehicle, we encourage you to check with your credit card provider about the types of insurance provided in these situations. However, most credit card companies will not provide liability coverage, which is usually the most important type of coverage in these situations because it will handle medical expenses.

If You Get Into An Accident

If you or somebody you love have experienced an accident while operating a rental vehicle, you need to seek medical care as soon as possible. You will present the insurance information to the responding police officers, and these cases will proceed forward just like any other vehicle accident claim. You need to speak with a skilled vehicle accident attorney in Mesa quickly to ensure that you recover all the compensation you are entitled to through these insurance coverages.