What happens if you get in a car accident in a rental car? The answer may depend on who was at fault for the accident. If you were responsible for the accident and purchased rental car insurance as part of your contract, it might cover the costs of the accident.
If another driver was responsible for the accident, the at-fault driver or their insurance company might bear financial responsibility. This can happen similarly to when the driver was at-fault for any accident with a privately-owned vehicle. Depending on the terms of your insurance policy, it might also protect the financial expenses from the accident.
A car accident lawyer might be able to help you pursue compensation if another party causes your rental car accident.
Your Legal Team Might Need These Documents
Your representative and the at-fault driver’s representative might each ask for various documents. They will also use them to understand what led to the car accident. These documents may include:
- Your complete rental agreement
- Your complete insurance policy
- The at-fault driver’s insurance policy
- The official car accident report
- Your medical records and bills
Your lawyer might also request other types of evidence to help prove the cause of the accident. These can indicate your accident-related expenses and losses. These items may make up the evidence file your legal team builds to attempt to assign liability and financial responsibility to the at-fault driver.
Finding the Value of Your Compensation Claim
When another driver causes a car accident that results in physical and property damage, it might lead to a myriad of expenses. According to the legal guidelines found in California Civil Code (CIV) §1431.2, the potentially recoverable damages in a car accident case may include:
- Medical expenses
- Property damage
- Lost wages
- Pain and suffering
- Emotional anguish
When you are injured in a car accident in your own car, the cost of repairing or replacing your car might be included in your compensation claim. If your accident happened in a rental car, the at-fault driver might be responsible for the cost of repairing or replacing the rental car.
A car accident lawyer can help you identify your potentially recoverable damages and calculate their value.
Meeting the Required Legal Elements of Negligence
You may be able to recover compensation for your damages if you can prove that the at-fault driver’s negligence caused your accident.
This may require evidence that the at-fault driver:
- Owed you a duty of care
- Neglected to live up to that duty
- Caused your injuries and property damage
- Caused your financial damages
A car accident lawyer may also be able to collect evidence of liability to use in your compensation claim. This evidence may include:
- The car accident report
- Witness statements
- Photos or videos from the accident
- Your medical records
- Statements from accident reconstruction experts
Do Not Let the Statute of Limitations Expire in Your Case
After a car accident, you generally have two years to file a personal injury lawsuit, per California’s Code of Civil Procedure (CCP) §335.1. The statutory clock starts counting your filing time from the date the accident occurs. Waiting too long and letting this time limit in your case expire before taking legal action could mean that your lawsuit gets dismissed.
If your legal team becomes involved in your car accident lawsuit early enough, they might also be able to ensure the filing deadline is not overlooked and your right to sue is protected.
Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices May Be Able to Help You After a Rental Car Accident
If you were injured in a car accident involving a rental car in Los Angeles, you might have several options for pursuing compensation.
A car accident lawyer from Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices can then investigate your case and determine if your insurance, the rental agency’s insurance, or the at-fault driver’s insurance might bear financial responsibility. Then, we can manage all aspects of your case and fight for compensation on your behalf. Meanwhile, you can focus on recovering from your injuries.
For a free case review with our team member, call Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices today at (866) 559-7223. During your consultation, we can discuss your next steps after a car accident in a rental car.
Instead of working for a flat rate or an hourly wage, Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices handles many cases on a contingency-fee-basis. In this system, our attorney fees come as a percentage of your settlement offer or court award if and when you win your case.