What You Need to Know About Getting a Rental Car After a Car Accident
Have you been in an auto accident and now need a rental car? Learn how a personal injury attorney can uphold your rights and get compensation for injuries and other damages.
After a car accident, an individual’s main focus should be healing from any injuries and getting their life back to normal. When your vehicle has been damaged, it can be tough to get around without a rental car to get the critical care you need and your livelihood back. So who takes care of the rental car payments and what do you need to know about getting a rental car after an accident?
The at-fault driver’s auto insurance company should pay for the rental car, but often they will not do so until a court decision or settlement has been made. The best way to show that the other person is at fault is by documenting everything meticulously as much as possible at the scene of the accident. Get the at-fault driver’s contact and auto insurance information. Call the police to the scene to file an official police report to demonstrate what occurred and get a copy of the report. Take photos and videos of the accident scene and document any vehicle damage, traffic signs, weather conditions, and personal observations. Be sure to get the names, contact information, and observations from any witnesses.
If the at-fault driver’s insurance company won’t pay for the rental car upfront, you can touch base with your auto insurance agent to go over the rental details of your policy. Rental car costs should be documented so you can be properly compensated with an auto accident lawsuit. Typically, auto insurance companies have a maximum rental car fee amount per day or per claim and have preferred rental car companies that you must use. Your auto insurance company will provide you with a comparable vehicle up to the limits of the policy and you will need to provide a debit or credit card to the rental car company as part of their security deposit policy. After your auto repairs are done, you will want to promptly return the rental vehicle so you do not incur charges that will not be covered by your insurance policy. When your vehicle is a total loss, rental coverage can end as soon as you receive the check from the insurance company, so you will want to shop for your next vehicle promptly.
Personal injury attorneys regularly encounter at-fault drivers and auto insurance companies who try to escape liability. The process of filing an auto insurance claim and an auto accident lawsuit is cumbersome, and many individuals feel more at ease when an experienced auto accident law firm can handle all the details and uphold their rights so they can focus on getting better. Getting in touch with a skilled Tampa personal injury lawyer early on will help you have the strongest legal position.
The Tampa personal injury lawyers at Florin Gray are passionate advocates for injured people. If you or a loved one experienced a serious auto accident in Tampa, Pasco County, New Port Richey, Wesley Chapel, or surrounding areas of Florida, our auto accident attorneys can help. At our law firm, your case will be handled by an attorney, not a case manager, and you will get the utmost attention and care to your case. Also, we only get paid if we win and make a successful recovery for you. Our attorneys have more than 80 years of experience successfully handling a wide range of personal injury matters, including injuries resulting from motor vehicle accidents. We take a hands-on approach and aggressively pursue the maximum amount of compensation for your medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. Contact our office today to schedule a free and confidential case evaluation with an experienced personal injury attorney.
