Typically if you’ve been involved in an automobile accident there’s a series of steps you would take after the crash, and procedures you would adhere to, in order to facilitate an exchange of information.
The information that is exchanged might include insurance, names of parties involved, vehicle damage and police reports if available. But what if one party is driving a rental car, what then? Well the procedure and the information exchanged is the same as if both vehicles were owned by their respective drivers.
Now if you are hit by someone who is driving a car, and that person is found to be at fault for the accident then that person would be liable for the resulting damages. Or in most cases they have insurance and the responsibility to pay falls on the insurance company insuring the vehicle of the at fault driver. That same scenario would apply to rental vehicles.
If the person renting the car doesn’t have personal vehicle insurance, the rental company would most likely request the renter buy additional coverage as part of the rental agreement. Unfortunately in many cases the additional insurance that is offered is the most basic (or minimal) liability coverage and may not cover all the expenses related to the accident. And any damage not paid by insurance would be the responsibility of the person who caused the accident. But, it may be difficult to collect money owed for damage if insurance is lacking.
If the scenario is one where a prompt fair settlement is impossible, a law firm can step in and promptly file suit to recover compensation for not only physical and emotional injuries, but medical bills, lost wages, and property damage.
But what if the person who caused the accident was a foreigner, or someone who wasn’t on the rental agreement and borrowed or possibly stole the vehicle in question? Who is responsible?
If the driver who hit you does not have personal automobile insurance, did not purchase rental car insurance or had no other policy that would cover liability in an accident, the victim may have to resort to submitting a claim with their own insurance accessing their uninsured or underinsured motorist coverage.
Now you may think that’s a lot of “ifs” and a lot of things have to transpire for the worst case to happen where you are relying on your own insurance to pay out. But those exact scenarios have played out enough times that insurance companies now recommend motor vehicle owners to have uninsured and underinsured coverage to some extent so they’re covered when needed.
If you were injured or involved in an accident, it is critical that you consult with an attorney who has extensive trial litigation experience. If your case cannot be settled, it is crucial that your attorney understand how to prepare your case for trial and how to win your case.
If you have been in any kind of a car accident caused by the negligence of someone else, and were injured or sustained property damage in a car crash in Merrillville, Crown Point, Gary, Hammond, Highland, Portage, Valparaiso, or in Lake or Porter County, or any part of northwest Indiana contact our firm for help. We put our experience and resources to work for car crash injury victims throughout northwest Indiana with one object in mind: to maximize your compensation.
The Law Offices of David W. Holub, P.C., strive to represent each client aggressively and to obtain prompt and favorable results. We not only aggressively pursue our client’s best interests, but we remain accessible and attentive to our client’s needs.
The firm concentrates in personal injury cases of all types, medical malpractice, and wrongful death litigation. We work tirelessly to serve each client aggressively and with empathy, to communicate regularly and clearly, and to obtain prompt and favorable results, while adhering to the highest standards of excellence and integrity. Our team considers it a high honor to be called upon to serve our clients whom we often come to regard as our friends.
If you’ve been injured and are looking for answers we invite you to make use of the information on our website, and to call our law office at (219) 736-9700 to schedule a time to talk directly to us and see firsthand if we are the right law firm for you.
If you would like to learn more about personal injury law, we encourage you to listen to our Personal Injury Primer Podcast where we break down the law into simple terms, provide legal tips, and discuss topics related to personal injury law. And read “Fighting For Truth: A Trial Lawyer’s Insight Into What It Takes To Win” an entertaining and enlightening book pulling readers into the courtroom giving them a glimpse of the legal process and what it takes to win at trial.
If you were injured and need to file a claim for compensatory damages, fill out this contact form and we will get back to you as soon as possible.