When you are in a rental car accident, you may be just as eligible for compensation for your losses as if you were in an accident while driving your personal vehicle. You might be eligible for damages even if you did not purchase rental car insurance.
Do I have insurance for my rental car? That's the question that strikes a person as soon as a rental car accident occurs. Of even more concern is if you have not bothered to purchase rental car insurance at the time of renting the car. Fortunately, your own insurance or that of the other driver should cover you depending on the circumstances.
Filing a Claim after a Car Accident in a Rental
If you suffered injuries in an accident involving a rental car, inform your insurer just as you would if the accident involved your own car. If it was a single-car accident, you may deal only with your insurer. Call the insurance company and explain that you were in an accident. Depending on
your coverage, you may be able to recover damages that you suffered because of the accident.
Most accident insurance policies will cover the cost of accident damages after an accident involving a rental car. However, policies may differ. Check with your insurer whether your car accident coverage includes accidents that occur when you're driving a rental vehicle. Typically, your liability insurance will cover damages you cause to other drivers; your collision coverage may cover your property damage regardless of fault.
If the accident involved another motorist, inform your own insurance of the accident and inform the other driver’s insurer if she caused the accident. If the other driver’s negligence led to the accident, file a claim with that driver’s liability coverage to recover damages for medical bills, lost wages, and more. You must prove negligence, causation, and establish your damages.
Should I purchase rental car insurance?
If you are renting a car and wondering whether you need to purchase rental insurance, check with your insurance policy first to see if you have coverage. Also check the credit card that you use to rent the vehicle as some credit cards provide some insurance.
Once you have an idea of the coverage you already have through your own insurance company or your credit card, you can decide if you need any additional coverage through rental car insurance. Avoid overlapping coverage, as it won’t help you recover more damages.
Get Help with a Claim after an Accident in a Rental Car
If you were in an accident while driving a rental car, you may file a claim with your insurer to recover compensation. You may also be able to file a claim with the other motorist’s insurance. Much depends on the cause of the accident, the damages you suffered, as well as the type of coverage on your insurance policy.
