Best Rental Car Accident Lawyers in Evansville, IN

The first steps you should take following an accident involving a rental car are the same as with all automobile crashes.

Check Everyone for Injuries

There’s no doubt that automobile accidents are dangerous. Thousands of people suffer fatalities and severe injuries from car wrecks every year. If you’re involved in a car accident, you should check yourself, your passengers, and others involved in the accident for injuries.

Time is of the essence in a car wreck, and the longer severe injuries are left unattended, the higher the chance they will require more extensive medical treatment. Call 911 immediately, notify the operator that there has been a motor vehicle accident involving injuries, and ask for medical and police assistance.

Take Pictures at the Accident

You’ll want to take as many pictures as possible of your car accident to serve as evidence of damage to the vehicle and potential causes of the wreck. For example, if you skidded over an oil spill, the law may determine the spill to be the cause of the accident. Similarly, a patch of ice may contribute to a wreck. 

Take photographs of the damage to your automobile and the scene of the accident. Make sure to get pictures of the other vehicles involved in the accident, if possible. 

However, if drivers of the other cars appear angry, it’s best to limit your activities to your own vehicle. There’s no need to instigate an argument, which may lead to further repercussions.

Tell the Police What Happened

When the police arrive at the scene of the wreck, they’ll speak with everyone involved in the accident. Make sure to give police officers your account of the collision and allow them to review your license and registration information. If you have rented a car, they’ll need the documentation that should be in the glove compartment.

Make sure to retain a copy of their police report. Your insurance company will likely request a copy. If you file a personal injury claim related to the accident, you’ll need to have the police report available for your lawyer.

Contact Your Rental Car Company

You must inform your rental car company immediately following an accident. You’ll also need to provide them with the contact details and policy number of your insurance coverage. If you are using your personal policy to cover damage to a rental car, you will likely need to pay a deductible before they release funds to the rental car company.

In some cases, it’s possible to have multiple policies available for your rental car damage. 

For example, your credit card company may provide you with some coverage. Sometimes, people choose to purchase rental car insurance with the rental car company to safeguard against financial losses. You’ll need to determine which policy applies. 

Go to the Doctor for a Checkup

In some cases, people don’t realize they’ve sustained injuries from a car accident for several days. Adrenaline kicks into high gear following an accident, and it may mask symptoms of serious injuries. 

Typically, it takes several days to see symptoms of a traumatic brain injury (TBI) or internal bleeding. These injuries can be severe and may require surgery or intensive medical care to overcome. A doctor will examine you to determine whether you have any severe injuries that warrant additional treatment.

All rental car agencies offer insurance coverage to any individual who rents a vehicle from them. Usually, the coverage is available for an additional price outside of your daily or weekly rental fee. 

Before deciding whether to purchase rental car insurance, check your personal coverage through your standard automobile insurance policy. Most policies extend their scope to cover damage to rented vehicles. 

However, suppose that you have a basic policy covering only collision and primary liability. In that case, your coverage may not cover the property damage to a rental car that resulted from an accident you are at fault for.

Sometimes, a homeowners policy will include coverage for rental cars. If you own or rent a home, check your coverage to determine whether your policy covers comprehensive damage to rental vehicles.

If your automobile, homeowner’s, or renter’s policy doesn’t offer comprehensive coverage for rental car accidents, it’s best to purchase the additional waiver from the rental car agency. Doing so can protect you from significant financial losses if you’re involved in an accident.

If you’re involved in a rental car accident, you may hear the terms primary and secondary insurance. 

Primary insurance refers to your principal source of insurance coverage. Usually, this is your standard insurance policy. If you’re involved in a rental car accident, you’ll need to pay the deductible to repair the rental car as soon as possible. 

Your primary insurance policy sets the deductible amount. Once you pay your deductible, your policy should cover the remainder of the damage.

Secondary insurance kicks in after the limits of your primary policy are exhausted. You may be able to recover the deductible you paid to your primary insurance agency through the secondary provider, especially if you’re not at fault for the wreck.

Any time a dispute arises concerning insurance coverage on a rental car, you likely need the assistance of a lawyer. A lawyer can help ensure your primary insurance source covers the damage to the rental car.

You may have suffered a physical injury from the wreck. The extent of bodily injuries can vary, and you may need financial assistance to keep on top of your medical bills and lost wages if you cannot work.

Where can I find the best rental car accident lawyers in Evansville, IN? Look for a personal injury attorney with extensive experience negotiating with insurance providers and rental car agencies. You’ll want someone who won’t back down and will pursue your case to the furthest extent of the law, even if it requires going to trial.

Proper automobile insurance will protect you from most of the financial fallout from a rental car accident, even if you were at fault. 

However, if the other driver is at fault for the accident, your rental car agency may not wait for the insurance claims process to finalize. A damaged vehicle is lost revenue to them, and every day the car is out of service costs them money. 

While rare, in some cases, the rental car agency won’t wait to recover the money they need to pay for repair to the vehicle. Instead, they’ll charge your credit card for the full extent of the damage, making you work to recover a check from the other driver’s insurance company.

Is this fair? While it sounds unfair, in the eyes of the rental car agency, you are responsible for returning their car in good condition. If the contract you signed allows them to collect damages from you, they may decide to do so.

Whether you’re driving your own car or a rental car, you should be able to obtain compensation for injuries sustained in a car accident. Indiana uses the modified comparative negligence rule when determining appropriate damages in an accident.

Under this law, car accident victims can recover financial damages for their injuries as long as they are not responsible for 50% or more of the wreck. Your attorney will work with you to determine the level of fault you had in the accident and determine the amount of compensation you may be able to recover.

In Indiana, the statute of limitations is two years. Thus, you must file your personal injury claim within two years of the date of the car accident.

However, it’s wise not to wait too long to file your claim. Your attorney will need time to develop a case strategy and assemble the evidence of your case. The sooner you file, the quicker you may obtain compensation for your injuries.

It’s time to seek assistance from Morgan and Morgan. Our lawyers have extensive experience in personal injury and car accident law. We have helped thousands of individuals recover from financial losses due to car accidents. 

We’ll ensure that you’re represented fairly and seek to collect the compensation you need to move forward with your life.

Motor vehicle accidents involving rental cars can be complex, involving numerous insurance agencies seeking to minimize costs. 

Anyone involved in a rental car accident would be smart to seek the assistance of a competent attorney who knows how to deftly navigate the law and negotiate in your favor. 

We have a nationwide team of attorneys at Morgan & Morgan who can help you resolve your rental car legal claim. Use our contact form today to schedule a free consultation.