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Who pays for a rental car accident depends on several factors, including which party was negligent and the language of the rental car contract. If the rental car driver is at fault, their auto insurance company or the rental car insurance company may pay. If another party is at fault, their insurance provider may be responsible.
If you were involved in a crash with a rental car, a Rutherfordton car accident lawyers can identify who is at fault for your wreck and determine who owes you damages.
Determining Fault in a Rental Car Accident
Before you pinpoint who is responsible for paying for a rental car accident, you must determine whose negligence caused the accident. A driver is generally responsible for a crash if they engaged in one of these negligent behaviors:
- Drunk driving
- Speeding
- Failure to yield
- Tailgating
- Distracted driving
- Poor left turns
- Drowsy driving
- Other traffic law violations
Other parties could be responsible, too. Maybe the city government didn’t maintain the roads or warn the road users about dangerous conditions. Alternatively, a defective part in one of the involved vehicles could have caused the crash. Your personal injury lawyer will investigate to determine the accident’s cause, so you can pursue each party who contributed to the auto wreck.
In doing so, we must prove the at-fault party was responsible for providing you with a duty of care, neglected that duty, and caused the wreck. As a result, you experienced economic and non-economic damages. Showing each of these elements in your personal injury claim will allow you to seek compensation from one or more liable parties.
Options for Seeking Compensation Following a Rental Vehicle Accident
If our investigation shows that a rental car driver is to blame for the crash, who pays for your damages depends on the language in the rental contract. In some cases, the at-fault driver’s personal auto insurance provider may pay for the resulting damages. In other situations, the driver may have purchased alternative or supplemental rental car coverage. In that case, the rental car company’s insurer should pay.
If you were driving a rental car and another driver is at fault, their insurance should pay for the damages, up to policy limits.
If you’re unsure where to turn, a car accident attorney can read the rental agreement and each insurance policy thoroughly to determine which insurance company is responsible for paying your losses.
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Common Forms of Recoverable Compensation in a Rental Car Accident Claim
Car accidents can cause various losses for those involved, and they affect all victims differently. The amount of compensation you receive will depend on your unique situation. Your attorney will account for factors like your medical treatment, prognosis, working situation, and way of life. This information will help them establish what fair compensation looks like, but in general, you may be entitled to recover these losses:
- Past and future medical care expenses
- Pain and suffering
- Rental car costs
- Property damage
- Loss of income
- Future loss of earning capacity
- Scarring and disfigurement
- Reduced quality of life
- Mental anguish
According to the Insurance Institute of Highway Safety (IIHS), 42,514 people passed away from injuries suffered in motor vehicle wrecks nationwide in 2022. If you lost a loved one in a rental car accident, you may have grounds to file a wrongful death claim or lawsuit. A financial recovery for their final medical bills, lost wages, and funeral expenses, in addition to the surviving family’s loss of companionship and consortium, may be available.
One of our wrongful death lawyers will ensure your settlement or verdict accounts for the full extent of your damages so your family can maintain financial stability during this challenging time.
The Deadline for Filing a Personal Injury Lawsuit After a Car Accident
In some cases, filing a personal injury lawsuit makes the most sense. However, you have a limited time to act. The statute of limitations for your case depends on which state the accident occurred in. For example, the deadline is generally three years from the accident date in North Carolina (N.C. Gen. Stat. § 1-52) and South Carolina (S.C. Ann. § 15-3-530). Deadlines may differ if the accident occurred elsewhere.
A personal injury attorney from our firm can determine your filing deadline. If you don’t sue the other party on time, you will likely lose the ability to take legal action. We can help you avoid this fate if given enough notice.
Our Rental Car Accident Attorneys Can Help You With Your Insurance Claim or Lawsuit
Determining who’s supposed to pay for your rental car accident and figuring out the rest of the legal process can get complex quickly. That’s why you may want to consider hiring a car accident lawyer from our personal injury law firm. While you’re in recovery, they can take on the following responsibilities for you:
- Accessing the police report
- Compiling evidence of the crash and your injuries
- Determining fault and liability
- Representing you in settlement negotiations
- Corresponding with the liable party’s insurance company
- Going to court, if necessary
On top of these legal services, our lawyers at Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC will provide quality customer service. We have a 24/7 helpline so you can get fast answers about your case at any time. We’ll also keep you informed about its progress, so you can always be up to date.
Our assistance will be available to you on a contingency-fee basis, so you won’t pay us a dime unless and until we settle or win your case.
Call Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC After a Rental Car Accident
Allow our attorneys to determine who pays for your rental car accident while you heal from your injuries. We have served over 10,000 clients, recovered over $100 million, and received a 4.9/5-star rating across 415 Google reviews.
Contact Farmer & Morris Law, PLLC today to learn more about your legal options. Your first call is free.
