After a car accident, you may have a few options for having your rental car paid for.
If another party is liable for your accident, they may owe you compensation for the costs of your rental car. However, this may not be confirmed until your insurance claim, settlement negotiations, or personal injury lawsuit is complete. Accordingly, you may have to pay for your rental car out of your own pocket and then seek reimbursement for the costs later.
Alternatively, depending on what type of coverage you have, your own insurance policy might pay for the rental car while your car is in the repair shop. If you choose to go this route, it might be a faster option than obtaining a rental through the at-fault driver’s insurance policy.
Having access to a rental car while your own car is undergoing repairs can help you and your family maintain your regular schedule without having to continually rely on friends and family members for rides.
If you work with a car accident lawyer on your case, they may be able to help you obtain rental car coverage.
Assess Your Potential Compensation Package
If you were involved in a car accident caused by another party’s negligence, you might be entitled to compensation for any reasonable expenses attributed to the accident. Your lawyer may work with you to prove the at-fault driver’s negligence, which generally includes duty, breach, cause, and damages.
Proving these elements may allow you to recover compensation for a wide range of damages, per California Civil Code (CIV) §1431.2. These damages may include:
- Medical care and treatment
- Wage and income loss
- Property damage or loss
- Necessary in-home assistance
- Loss of business opportunities
- Pain and suffering
- Mental anguish
- Emotional distress
Your lawyer might be able to help you calculate these expenses. Some, such as future medical care and loss of income, can be more difficult to forecast and calculate on your own.
You Might Be Able to Close Your Case with a Settlement Agreement
Once you determine a claim value, your lawyer may be able to negotiate with the at-fault party’s insurance company to reach a settlement offer. This offer can keep both parties out of court while still holding the at-fault driver financially responsible for their actions. Even if a lawyer represents you, the decision to say yes or no to a settlement offer is always yours.
When you agree to a settlement offer, you typically sign a waiver relieving the at-fault driver of any further financial responsibility. That makes getting the right value and accepting the right settlement offer crucial.
A lawyer may be able to ensure that you do not accept a speedy but inaccurate settlement offer. If the responsible party’s insurance company refuses to make you a fair offer, your lawyer may be able to take your case to trial.
Your Case File Paints a Picture of the Accident
Representatives on both sides may depend on the evidence in your case file. This will tell them what caused the car accident and what expenses it created.
Some evidence your lawyer might collect to prove the cause and cost of your accident may include:
- Car accident report
- Photos or videos from the scene of the accident
- Medical reports
- Check stubs
- Car repair bills
- Rental receipts
- Witness statements
Be sure to notify your legal team if you have these or any additional forms of proof. They may help bolster and support your potential right to compensation.
Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices May Be Able to Help You
If you were involved in a car accident in Los Angeles, Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices might be able to help you fight for compensation. Our team can investigate your case. Investigation results can help you determine who can pay for the rental car while your car is being repaired.
Our lawyers might be able to help you prove the cause of the accident. They can also assign financial liability to the at-fault driver, and negotiate a settlement with their insurance company.
You do not have to fight for financial recovery on your own. For a free case review with a member of our car accident team, call Jacoby & Meyers Law Offices at 866-559-7223. If you qualify, our firm may be able to offer you representation on a contingency-fee-basis with nothing due upfront to start.