After an accident, you may worry about how to resume your everyday life without a car. After all, many Florida residents need a car to get them to and from work, school, and doctor’s appointments. If you’re one of them, you will need a rental car while your car is in the repair shop or assessed by the insurance company. But who pays for your rental car after an accident?
Vehicles typically take 2-4 weeks to receive repairs in an auto body shop. That’s if they can even get repaired. If the insurance company declares your car to be a total loss, you may need to drive a rental car even longer.
When you need a rental car after an accident, the at-fault driver’s insurance policy should pay for it. However, what if there is a liability question or multiple parties are involved in the crash? It can take time to establish liability. During this time, you may need to turn to your own insurance policy to cover the cost of the rental car. If your insurance policy doesn’t cover it, you might need to explore other options.
An experienced car accident attorney can help you through this difficult process and ensure you receive the money you’re entitled to – including rental car coverage.
Ways to Pay for Your Rental Car After an Accident
After an accident, you can pay for a rental car in several ways. Your attorney can help you determine which option is best for you.
Your Insurance Policy
Did you know that if you’ve been in an accident and need a rental car, your insurance company might be able to cover the cost? Some insurance policies have rental car coverage as part of their collision policy. This means that your insurance will cover the cost of your rental car up to a certain limit. Be sure to check your policy closely to know how much you’re entitled to receive. You might need to pay out of pocket if you go over their limit.
At-Fault Driver’s Insurance Policy
You can also use the at-fault driver’s insurance policy to pay for the rental car. If the other driver was at fault for the accident, their insurance company might cover the cost of the rental car. However, remember that the at-fault driver’s insurance company may need time to investigate the accident and determine liability before they agree to pay for the rental car.
Out-of-Pocket
If you do not have rental car coverage as part of your insurance policy and the at-fault driver’s insurance company is not covering the cost, you may have to pay for it out of pocket. However, some rental car companies offer special rates for customers who are involved in an accident, so it is worth asking about any discounts or promotions that may be available. Additionally, some car repair shops may offer rental cars to their customers while their car gets repaired, so it is worth checking with the repair shop to see if this is an option.
Establishing Liability After a Car Accident
If you want the at-fault driver’s insurance company to pay for your rental car after the accident, you must figure out who is at fault. This is difficult and requires a lawyer with experience and resources to handle your case. You may believe the other driver caused your accident. However, before their insurance company pays for your rental car, your attorney must prove fault.
After a car accident, it can be challenging to determine who is at fault. When you hire an attorney, one of the first things they will do is begin an investigation to establish liability. To do this, they may interview witnesses, review police reports, and examine the crash to better understand what happened.
Armed with this evidence, your attorney will build a case showing that the other driver was at fault for the accident. This may involve proving that the other driver was driving recklessly or that they violated traffic laws.
Once your attorney builds your case, they will use this to negotiate with the insurance company and get you the compensation you deserve. This includes paying for a rental car.
5 Steps to Getting a Rental Car After a Car Accident
After a car accident, you need to get a rental car quickly. If you’re like most Florida families, you rely on your vehicle to pick up groceries, get your kids to and from school, and go to work. That’s why getting a rental car is essential after a crash. But how can you get a rental car and ensure the responsible party pays for it?
- Report the car accident to your insurance company. You must notify your insurance company of the accident. Many car accident policies require that you report any car accidents within a reasonable time frame. They will then open up a claim and begin their investigation.
- Get a claim number. Once you talk to your insurance company and report the accident, your agent will open a claim, and you’ll receive a claim number and a case manager. Your insurance company will inform you as they go through the claims process. This might include investigating the accident, examining the wreckage, and assessing the value of your vehicle.
- Examine your insurance policy for rental car insurance coverage. Check your insurance policy to see if you have rental car insurance coverage. To locate your insurance coverage details, access your policy’s Declarations (Dec) page through either a hard copy or the mobile application. This page comprehensively displays all the coverages associated with your policy.
If you have rental car insurance, you will likely notice a note like 40/750, indicating that you have coverage of $40 per day, with a maximum limit of $750. You will need to pay out-of-pocket if you go over the limit.
- Contact a rental car company. Insurance companies often work with specific rental car companies to provide rental car coverage to their policyholders. This arrangement is known as a “preferred vendor” or “rental car program.”
Under these programs, insurance companies have pre-existing agreements with rental car companies, which provide discounted rental rates and other benefits to policyholders.
However, as a policyholder, you are not required to rent from the preferred vendor or rental car company. You have the option to choose any rental car company you prefer.
Before choosing a rental car company, check around and find the best deal. You might need to drive this vehicle for a while, so be sure they have the right vehicle for you and your family. For example, if you’re used to driving a minivan because you have kids, you might not want to accept a sub-compact car.
- Contact an experienced car accident lawyer. There are many reasons why you should hire an experienced car accident lawyer after your crash. Your attorney can help you navigate Florida’s complex no-fault laws and get you the compensation you deserve. They can also help you get a rental car after your accident and establish liability, so the at-fault driver pays for it!
Your attorney can help by working with the insurance company to ensure you are provided with a rental car while your vehicle is repaired. They can also help negotiate the terms of the rental car agreement and ensure that you are not responsible for any additional expenses or fees associated with the rental car. Additionally, if the insurance company refuses to provide you with a rental car, a car accident lawyer can help you take legal action to obtain one.
Who Pays If I Get Into an Accident in a Rental Car?
If you get into an accident in a rental car, the responsibility for paying for the damages depends on the accident’s circumstances and your insurance coverage.
You Are at Fault For the Accident
If you caused the accident while driving the rental car, you might be responsible for paying for the damages to the rental car and any other vehicles involved. If you have purchased collision damage waiver (CDW) or loss damage waiver (LDW) insurance from the rental car company, it may cover some or all of the damages. If you did not purchase this insurance, you might be responsible for paying the rental car company for the damages.
Many credit card companies offer rental car insurance coverage, which will kick in if you get into an accident. Some credit cards provide primary coverage, meaning they will pay for damages before your personal insurance or the rental car company’s insurance policy. Others provide secondary coverage, meaning they will only pay for damages after all other insurance policies have been exhausted.
It is important to note that most credit card coverage for rental car damage is limited and may have exclusions or limitations. For example, coverage may be limited to certain types of rental cars or rental periods, and certain types of damages may not be covered.
Another Driver is at Fault For the Accident
If another driver caused the accident, their insurance may be responsible for paying for the damages to the rental car as well as any other vehicles involved. If the other driver does not have insurance or is underinsured, you may need to rely on your own insurance or the rental car company’s insurance.
Contact Our Car Accident Lawyer Today!
If you’ve been in a car accident and your car has been damaged, call our law firm immediately. We can help you get a rental car so you can get back on the road while your car is being fixed.
Getting in an accident can be stressful, and dealing with insurance companies can be a hassle. Our car accident attorneys can take the burden off your shoulders and help you navigate the process. We can also help you get the compensation you deserve for your car repairs and any other damages.
Don’t let the insurance companies take advantage of you – call Prosper Shaked Accident Injury Attorneys PA at (305) 694-2676 today, and let us fight for you.