Navigating the aftermath of a car accident can be difficult. You’ll have physical injuries that may impact your ability to live your normal life, emotional and mental turmoil that can leave you feeling hopeless for the future, and financial implications that can be downright ruinous.
Although all of that can be stressful to deal with, especially when you’re coping with extensive pain, you may be able to find relief through a personal injury lawsuit.
But figuring out what to do after a rental car accident can be even more confusing. After all, not only do you have to deal with the other motorist how was involved with the wreck, but you’ll also have to communicate with the rental company, their insurance provider and your own insurance company.
What you should and shouldn’t do after an accident in a rental car
It can be nerve-wracking to be involved in an accident under any circumstances, but getting hit while in a rental car can be even more stressful. Fortunately, there are steps that you can take to protect your interests in these situations. Here are some of the things that you should and shouldn’t do after one of these crashes:
- Don’t admit fault: Regardless of whom you talk to, avoid making any statements that might be indicative of assuming fault. This includes apologizing in any fashion. Making these statements could make it easier for the other party to sidestep liability, which puts you at risk of not recovering the compensation that you need to offset your damages.
- Do gather information: There’s a chance that your rental car accident may lead to litigation. Therefore, you’ll want to make sure that you have contact information not only for the other driver who was involved in the accident, but also any witnesses. If the other driver is uncooperative, then it might be best to wait for the police to arrive.
- Do take notes and pictures: Our memories can get fuzzy over time, which is a detriment to you when you’re pursuing an insurance or personal injury claim. Therefore, it’s beneficial for you to take pictures of the accident scene, if at all possible, and also take notes about how the accident occurred.
- Do contact the rental company: Shortly after the accident, you’ll want to notify the rental company of the crash and ask them about next steps. They’ll likely require you to fill out some sort of incident report.
- Do contact your own insurance company: You’ll also want to reach out to your own insurance company to gain clarification as to how to navigate the matter. This can get especially complicated if you purchased additional insurance from the rental company.
- Do figure out which policies will cover which damages: You’ll want to make sure that you’re maximizing the coverage provided to you by both your own insurance policy as well as the insurance that you obtained through the rental company. But in order to do that, you have to have a firm understanding of what each policy entails and how they apply in your specific set of circumstances. That’s why you’ll want to be diligent here to ensure that you have a firm grasp on the facts.
In the end, you’ll want to make sure that you’re prepared for the possibility of being involved in one of these accidents. This means assessing whether the rental company offers insurance, especially if your own policy doesn’t cover accidents in a rental car, and how your own insurance policy may be able to assist you in your time of need.
What if you need additional help?
If you need additional guidance in addressing your accident, then you might want to consider seeking out assistance from a qualified legal professional who is experienced in handling personal injury claims. By doing so, you can ensure that your rights are protected and that you maximize your chances of recovering the compensation that you deserve.